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Continuous bedside monitoring of brain tissue oxygen levels is a crucial component in the management of comatose patients suffering from acute brain injury on neurointensive care units. Ensuring sufficient brain oxygenation is recognized as an essential objective within neurocritical care, aimed at safeguarding patients from secondary ischemia. Hypoperfusion in occipital and the posterior watershed regions often remains undetected, as the placement of probes in these areas is challenging. A major concern is that patients would have to lie on the traditionally used implanted bolts due to the occipital entry point of the probes. Therefore, we present a novel technique compatible with magnetic resonance imaging that enables bedside placement of brain tissue oxygen probes without the use of a bolt in these areas. We conducted bedside implantations of Licox brain tissue oxygenation probes through Frazier's point utilizing peripheral venous cannulas on burr holes eliminating the need for bolts. A novel approach was successfully established for the bedside implantation of a Licox brain tissue oxygenation probe for occipital regions. This technical note describes the feasibility of a novel, simple, and straightforward bedside technique for boltless implantation of Licox brain tissue oxygen probes leading to rigid fixation and compatibility with magnetic resonance imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary tuberculosis is a chronic respiratory disease and lung infection that can be fatal if left untreated, as severe cases lead to compromised oxygen exchange at the alveolar level. This study uses a dual-scale porous medium model and computational methods to understand the nature of tuberculosis infection spread within the lungs and its effects on the alveolar oxygen exchange. The entire lung is modelled as a global, equivalent, heterogeneous porous medium comprising three zones with varying permeabilities that correspond to 23 generations of airflow branches. Airflow during each breathing cycle is simulated by solving transient mass and momentum transfer equations across the three zones of the global model. A separate local model is invoked in zone 3, to analyse oxygen exchange between the alveolar airflow and incoming capillary blood via mass transfer equations. The transient mass exchange equations are solved in the local model to yield the percentage of oxygen transferred to the blood. Tuberculosis spread – and hence, the congestion of the lung – is introduced by modifying the permeability and porosity of the global porous medium model. The impact of infection on the overall bloodstream oxygen content is evaluated by concurrent use of the global and local models. For the case with sudden reduction in immunity, severe infection condition is observed at 86 % of the total infection spreading time and at 75 % for the case with gradual reduction in immunity. For 40 % increase in immunity beyond the 50 % Γ stage, it is observed from the simulations that the severe infection situation is completely avoided, preventing any further tuberculosis spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) play a key role in physiological processes. However, the imbalance between ROS and antioxidants in favor of the former causes oxidative stress linked to numerous pathologies. Due to its unique attributes, including distinguished permeability and selective antioxidant capability, molecular hydrogen (H 2) has become an essential therapeutic agent. Hydrogen Inhalation Therapy (HIT) has come to light as a promising strategy to counteract oxidative stress. In this randomized controlled study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of HIT in reducing blood ROS levels. 37 participants with elevated ROS levels (d-ROMs value > 350 U.CARR) were enrolled in the study. Participants were divided into test and control groups. The test group participants received HIT, and then their blood ROS levels were measured immediately post-treatment and after 24 h. Their results were compared to those of the control group participants who did not undergo HIT. The test group demonstrated a significant reduction in blood ROS levels after the treatment. These findings suggested the efficacy of HIT in reducing oxidative stress. [Display omitted] • An evaluation of the impact of H 2 inhalation on blood ROS levels was conducted. • 37 participants were recruited for the study and split into test and control groups. • ROS levels were measured immediately after treatment and again after 24 h. • The test group exhibited a significant reduction in blood ROS levels. • Findings indicated that H 2 inhalation was effective in reducing oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to systematically review the effect of nitrate supplementation on blood oxygen saturation. We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases from their inception up to October 2022. Two reviewers independently conducted two stages of the screening process to include a randomized controlled trial with nitrate supplementation versus placebo intervention assessing oxygen saturation among lowlanders going to either real or simulated high altitude environments. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. Fixed-effect model meta-analyses were conducted for laboratory-based studies. Random-effect meta-analyses were conducted for real-world studies. We found 7 trials that met the eligibility criteria. A meta-analysis of studies with some bias concerns showed an increase of 1.26 % in the SpO2 with 44 % I2 during submaximal exercise at simulated high altitudes (GRADE: low). On the contrary, a meta-analysis of studies without heterogeneity showed that nitrate supplementation aggravated oxygen saturation decline (−2.64 %, p = 0.03, GRADE: high) during rest in real high-altitude environments. A meta-analysis also showed that nitrate supplementation did not affect Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) symptoms (GRADE: high). Our results suggest that nitrate supplementation did not provide benefits for AMS prevention during rest at high altitudes. The low-quality evidence showing small beneficial effects of nitrate supplementation during exercise calls for further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MR-induced gradient artifact affects EMG recordings during simultaneous muscle BOLD/EMG acquisitions. However, no dedicated hardware can remove the gradient artifact easily, and alternative methods are expensive and time-consuming. This study aimed to develop three denoising methods requiring different processing levels and MR-compatible hardware. At two time points, surface EMG was recorded from the lower leg of 6 participants (50:50 sex ratio, age = 26.24.6 yrs., height = 173.59.2 cm, weight = 71.511.4 kg) using a plantar flexion-based block design consisting of 30s of rest followed by 30s of flexion for 5 min, under three conditions: inside the MRI bore, with and without a BOLD sequence (3 T, BOLD sequence, GRE EPI, 10 slices, 64×64 matrix, 2 mm thickness, and TE/TR/flip = 35/3000 ms/70), and outside the MRI environment. Simultaneous BOLD/EMG recordings were denoised using average artifact subtraction with three methods of artifact template creation, each having varying timing and hardware requirements. Method M1 builds the artifact template by recording the scanner triggers coming from the MRI; M2 creates the artifact template with a constant artifact period computed as TR/[number of slices]; M3 estimates the artifact template by looking at the periodicity of the gradient artifact located in the EMG recordings. Following postprocessing, SNR analysis was performed, comparing rest-to-flexion periods, to assess the efficacy of denoising methods and to compare differences between conditions. Linear mixed-effects models showed no significant differences in the mean SNR between denoising methods (p = 0.656). Furthermore, EMG SNR measurements were significantly affected by the magnetic environment (p < 0.05) but not by muscle fatigue over time (p = 0.975). EMG recordings contaminated with gradient artifacts during simultaneous BOLD/EMG can be efficiently denoised using all proposed methods, with two methods requiring no extra hardware. With minimal post-processing, EMG can easily be performed during muscle BOLD MRI studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muscle hyperemia in exercise is usually the combined result of increased cardiac output and local muscle vasodilation, with the latter reflecting muscle's capacity for increased blood perfusion to support exercise. In this study, we aim to quantify muscle's vasodilation capability with dynamic BOLD imaging. A deoxyhemoglobin-kinetics model is proposed to analyze dynamic BOLD signals acquired during exercise recovery, deriving a hyperemia index (HI) for a muscle group of interest. We demonstrated the method's validity with calf muscles of healthy subjects who performed plantar flexion for muscle stimulation. In a test with exercise load incrementally increasing from 0 to 16 lbs., gastrocnemius HI showed considerable variance among the 4 subjects, but with a consistent trend, i.e. low at light load (e.g. 0–6 lbs) and linearly increasing at heavy load. The high variability among different subjects was confirmed with the other 10 subjects who exercised with a same moderate load of 8 lbs., with coefficient of variance among subjects' medial gastrocnemius 87.8%, lateral gastrocnemius 111.8% and soleus 132.3%. These findings align with the fact that intensive exercise induces high muscle hyperemia, but a comparison among different subjects is hard to make, presumably due to the subjects' different rate of oxygen utilization. For the same 10 subjects who exercised with load of 8 lbs., we also performed dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI to measure muscle perfusion (F). With a moderate correlation of 0.654, HI and F displayed three distinctive responses of calf muscles: soleus of all the subjects were in the cluster of low F and low HI, and gastrocnemius of most subjects had high F and either low or high HI. This finding suggests that parameter F encapsulates blood flow through vessels of all sizes, but BOLD-derived HI focuses on capillary flow and therefore is a more specific indicator of muscle vasodilation. In conclusion, the proposed hyperemia index has the potential of quantitatively assessing muscle vasodilation induced with exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insomnia disorder with objective short sleep duration (ISS) phenotype is a more serious biological subtype than insomnia with objective normal sleep duration (INS) phenotype, and the neuroimaging data is helpful to understand the pathophysiology of the ISS phenotype. This study was to compare the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and functional connectivity (FC) between the ISS phenotype and the INS phenotype. In this cross-sectional study, 55 patients with insomnia disorder were recruited, and 22 of them were defined as the ISS phenotype by the objective cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC) technique. The blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) sequences of all participants were obtained using the 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging system. We analyzed and compared the ALFF, ReHo, and FC between the ISS phenotype and the INS phenotype. We also conducted Pearson's correlation analysis between significant neuroimaging biomarkers and the CPC parameters. The differences were not significant in ALFF (P FWE-corr ＞0.05) or ReHo (P FWE-corr ＞0.05) between the ISS phenotype and the INS phenotype. For the FC analysis, the ISS phenotype had a Hub-node of the left inferior occipital gyrus (IOG.L), with significantly decreased connections (p＜0.001) in the bilateral occipital, parietal, and temporal regions. The significant FCs were closely related to sleep parameters. The left inferior occipital gyrus (IOG.L), as a Hub-node with decreased functional connections, may be a potential fMRI-based biomarker of the ISS phenotype. • The ISS phenotype may be characterized by a functional MRI-based biomarker. • The left inferior occipital gyrus (IOG.L) is a Hub-node. • This Hub-node has a number of significantly decreased functional connections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regardless of the type, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) requires the use of large intravascular cannulas and results in multiple abnormalities including non-physiologic blood flow, hemodynamic perturbation, rapid changes in blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, coagulation abnormalities, and a significant systemic inflammatory response. Among other sequelae, neurologic complications are an important source of mortality and long-term morbidity. The frequency of neurologic complications varies and is likely underreported due to the high mortality rate. Neurologic complications in patients supported by ECMO include ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, hypoxic brain injury, intracranial hemorrhage, and brain death. In addition to the disease process that necessitates ECMO, cannulation strategies and physiologic disturbances influence neurologic outcomes in this high-risk population. For example, the overall documented rate of neurologic complications in the venovenous ECMO population is lower, but a higher rate of intracranial hemorrhage exists. Meanwhile, in the venoarterial ECMO population, ischemia and global hypoperfusion seem to compose a higher percentage of neurologic complications. In what follows, the literature is reviewed to discuss the pathophysiology, incidence, risk factors, and outcomes related to short-term neurologic complications in patients supported by ECMO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) is a measure of the change in cerebral blood flow (CBF) in response to a vasoactive challenge. It is a useful indicator of the brain's vascular health. Purpose: To evaluate the factors that influence successful and unsuccessful CVR examinations using precise arterial and end‐tidal partial pressure of CO2 control during blood oxygen level–dependent (BOLD) MRI. Study Type: Retrospective. Subjects: Patients that underwent a CVR between October 2005 and May 2021 were studied (total of 1162 CVR examinations). The mean (±SD) age was 46.1 (±18.8) years, and 352 patients (43%) were female. Field Strength/Sequence: 3 T; T1‐weighted images, T2*‐weighed two‐dimensional gradient‐echo sequence with standard echo‐planar readout. Assessment: Measurements were obtained following precise hypercapnic stimuli using BOLD MRI as a surrogate of CBF. Successful CVR examinations were defined as those where: 1) patients were able to complete CVR testing, and 2) a clinically useful CVR map was generated. Unsuccessful examinations were defined as those where patients were not able to complete the CVR examination or the CVR maps were judged to be unreliable due to, for example, excessive head motion, and poor PETCO2 targeting. Statistical Analysis: Successful and unsuccessful CVR examinations between hypercapnic stimuli, and between different patterns of stimulus were compared with Chi‐Square tests. Interobserver variability was determined by using the intraclass correlation coefficient (P < 0.05 is significant). Results: In total 1115 CVR tests in 662 patients were included in the final analysis. The success rate of generating CVR maps was 90.8% (1012 of 1115). Among the different hypercapnic stimuli, those containing a step plus a ramp protocol was the most successful (95.18%). Among the unsuccessful examinations (9.23%), most were patient related (89.3%), the most common of which was difficulty breathing. Data Conclusion: CO2‐BOLD MRI CVR studies are well tolerated with a high success rate. Evidence Level: 4 Technical Efficacy: Stage 3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arterial spin labelling (ASL) is the only non‐invasive technique that allows absolute quantification of perfusion and is increasingly used in brain activation studies. Contrary to the blood oxygen level‐dependent (BOLD) effect ASL measures the cerebral blood flow (CBF) directly. However, the ASL signal has a lower signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), than the BOLD signal, which constrains its utilization in neurofeedback studies. If successful, ASL neurofeedback can be used to aid in the rehabilitation of health conditions with impaired blood flow, for example, stroke. We provide the first ASL‐based neurofeedback study incorporating a double‐blind, sham‐controlled design. A pseudo‐continuous ASL (pCASL) approach with background suppression and 3D GRASE readout was combined with a real‐time post‐processing pipeline. The real‐time pipeline allows to monitor the ASL signal and provides real‐time feedback on the neural activity to the subject. In total 41 healthy adults (19–56 years) divided into three groups underwent a neurofeedback‐based emotion imagery training of the left anterior insula. Two groups differing only in the explicitness level of instruction received real training and a third group received sham feedback. Only those participants receiving real feedback with explicit instruction showed significantly higher absolute CBF values in the trained region during neurofeedback than participants receiving sham feedback. However, responder analyses of percent signal change values show no differences in activation between the three groups. Persisting limitations, such as the lower SNR, confounding effects of arterial transit time and partial volume effects still impact negatively the implementation of ASL neurofeedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Exogenous ketone supplements are a potential augmentation strategy for cognitive resilience during acute hypoxic exposure due to their capacity to attenuate the decline in oxygen (O2) availability, and by providing an alternative substrate for cerebral metabolism. Utilizing a single‐blind randomized crossover design, 16 male military personnel (age, 25.3 ± 2.4 year, body mass, 86.2 ± 9.3 kg) performed tests of cognitive performance at rest in three environments: room air (baseline), normoxia (20 min; 0 m; 20.9% O2) and hypoxia (20 min; 6096 m, 9.7% O2) using a reduced O2 breathing device (ROBD). (R)‐3‐Hydroxybutyl (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate (R‐BD R‐βHB) ketone monoester (KME; 650 mg/kg, split dose given at 30 min prior to each exposure) or taste‐matched placebo (PLA) was ingested prior to normoxia and hypoxic exposure. Blood R‐βHB and glucose concentrations, cognitive performance and O2 saturation (SpO2${{S}_{{\mathrm{p}}{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$) were collected throughout. KME ingestion increased blood R‐βHB concentration, which was rapid and sustained (>4 mM 30 min post; P < 0.001) and accompanied by lower blood glucose concentration (∼20 mg/dL; P < 0.01) compared to PLA. Declines in cognitive performance during hypoxic exposure, assessed as cognitive efficiency during a Defense Automated Neurobehavioral Assessment (DANA) code substitution task, were attenuated with KME leading to 6.8 (95% CL: 1.0, 12.6) more correct responses per minute compared to PLA (P = 0.018). The decline in SpO2${{S}_{{\mathrm{p}}{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ during hypoxic exposure was attenuated (6.40% SpO2${{S}_{{\mathrm{p}}{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$; 95% CL: 0.04, 12.75; P = 0.049) in KME compared to PLA (KME, 76.8 ± 6.4% SpO2${{S}_{{\mathrm{p}}{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$; PLA, 70.4 ± 7.4% SpO2${{S}_{{\mathrm{p}}{{{\mathrm{O}}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$). Acute ingestion of KME attenuated the decline in cognitive performance during acute severe hypoxic exposure, which coincided with attenuation of declines in O2 saturation. What is the central question of this study? Can exogenous ketosis act as a countermeasure to declines in blood oxygen saturation and cognitive performance during acute severe hypoxic exposure at rest? What is the main finding and its importance? Acute exogenous ketosis via ingestion of a drink containing the (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyl (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate ketone monoester prior to acute severe hypoxic exposure attenuated hypoxia‐induced declines in blood oxygen saturation and cognitive performance at rest. What is the central question of this study?Can exogenous ketosis act as a countermeasure to declines in blood oxygen saturation and cognitive performance during acute severe hypoxic exposure at rest?What is the main finding and its importance?Acute exogenous ketosis via ingestion of a drink containing the (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyl (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate ketone monoester prior to acute severe hypoxic exposure attenuated hypoxia‐induced declines in blood oxygen saturation and cognitive performance at rest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Acute ingestion of exogenous ketone supplements in the form of a (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyl (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate (R‐BD R‐βHB) ketone monoester (KME) can attenuate declines in oxygen availability during hypoxic exposure and might impact cognitive performance at rest and in response to moderate‐intensity exercise. In a single‐blind randomized crossover design, 16 males performed assessments of cognitive performance before and during hypoxic exposure with moderate exercise [2 × 20 min weighted ruck (∼22 kg) at 3.2 km/h at 10% incline] in a normobaric altitude chamber (4572 m, 11.8% O2). The R‐BD R‐βHB KME (573 mg/kg) or a calorie‐ and taste‐matched placebo (∼50 g maltodextrin) were co‐ingested with 40 g of dextrose before exposure to hypoxia. The R‐βHB concentrations were rapidly elevated and sustained (>3 mM; P < 0.001) by KME. The decline in oxygen saturation during hypoxic exposure was attenuated in KME conditions by 2.4%–4.2% (P < 0.05) compared with placebo. Outcomes of cognitive performance tasks, in the form of the Defense Automated Neurobehavioral Assessment (DANA) code substitution task, the Stroop color and word task, and a shooting simulation, did not differ between trials before and during hypoxic exposure. These data suggest that the acute exogenous ketosis induced by KME ingestion can attenuate declining blood oxygen saturation during acute hypoxic exposure both at rest and during moderate‐intensity exercise, but this did not translate into differences in cognitive performance before or after exercise in the conditions investigated. What is the central question of this study? Can exogenous ketosis act as a countermeasure to declines in blood oxygen saturation and cognitive performance during acute hypoxic exposure while performing a weighted ruck exercise? What is the main finding and its importance? Acute exogenous ketosis via ingestion of a drink containing the (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyl (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate ketone monoester prior to acute hypoxic exposure attenuated hypoxia‐induced declines in blood oxygen saturation but had no effect on cognitive performance during exercise. What is the central question of this study?Can exogenous ketosis act as a countermeasure to declines in blood oxygen saturation and cognitive performance during acute hypoxic exposure while performing a weighted ruck exercise?What is the main finding and its importance?Acute exogenous ketosis via ingestion of a drink containing the (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyl (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate ketone monoester prior to acute hypoxic exposure attenuated hypoxia‐induced declines in blood oxygen saturation but had no effect on cognitive performance during exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Physical activity is known to enhance cognitive functioning across the lifespan, yet the effects of sedentary behaviors on cognitive functioning remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine how an acute daily bout of prolonged sitting influenced working memory, inhibitory control, and cerebral oxygenation (HbO2) in a sample of healthy young adults. Methods: Forty-one young adults (aged between 18-30 years of age) participated in an exploratory design intended to establish a control standard for determining how an acute 2-h bout of prolonged sitting influenced working memory, inhibitory control, and HbO2. The Flanker task, Simon task, and Delayed Match to Sample were utilized to assess inhibitory control and working memory, respectively, while functional near-infrared spectroscopy assessed HbO2. Participants were further subdivided into a physically active (Active) group and a physically inactive group (Inactive) based on self-reported physical activity participation. Paired sample t-tests were used to determine any changes in workingmemory, inhibitory control, and HbO2 frompre-to-post and between groups. Results: There were no differences in working memory or inhibitory control reaction time following prolonged sitting for the entire sample (p > 0.05) or between activity groups (p > 0.05). There was a significant reduction in Flanker accuracy post-prolonged sitting for both the congruent (p < 0.05) and incongruent (p < 0.05) conditions. For those in the Inactive group, there was no difference in HbO2 concentrations post-prolonged sitting. Those in the Active group exhibited a significant reduction in HbO2 during the Flanker Task following prolonged sitting (p < 0.05). Conclusions: An acute bout of daily prolonged sitting significantly reduced HbO2 in physically active young adults but not in inactive young adults. We recommend that future studies examining the effects of sedentary behaviors on microvasculature include an objective assessment of physical fitness and a direct measure of physical activity patterns and consider these values when assigning participants to the intervention condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trail making test (TMT) is a commonly used tool for evaluating executive functions, and the activation of cerebral oxygenation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during the test can reflect the participation of executive function. This study aimed to compare the differences in cerebral oxygenation in the PFC between the computer- and paper-based versions of the TMT and provide a theoretical basis for the optimization and clinical application of the computer-based version. A total of 32 healthy adult participants completed the computer- and paper-based TMT Types A and B. Cerebral oxygenation changes in the PFC were monitored during the experiment using near-infrared spectroscopy. Moreover, average changes in oxyhemoglobin (Δoxy-Hb) levels at the baseline and during activation periods in different types of testing were compared and analyzed. The number of correct connections in the computer-based version Type B was less than that in the paper-based version Type B (p <.001). The task time of the computer-based version was longer than that of the paper-based version (p <.001). The B/A ratio of the number of correct connections in the computer-based version was lower than that in the paper-based version (p <.001). The Δoxy-Hb in the PFC of the paper-based version was higher than that of the computer-based version (p <.001). Significant differences in oxygenation in the PFC were observed between the paper- and computer-based versions of TMT. After further improvement and correction in the subsequent development of the computer-based TMT, and taking into account the psychological feelings and preferences of the participants when performing different versions of the TMTs, the computer-based TMT is expected to play a good auxiliary role in clinical evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveMethodsImpact\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe study examines the effects of the air-bladder offloading mode of a smart pressure redistribution wheelchair cushion on tissue oxygenation in the gluteal tissue of non-disabled participants. The hypothesis is that the cushion’s offloading mode, which involves sequentially deflating its five air-bladders one at a time for a specific duration, would improve tissue oxygenation during sitting.Two procedures were conducted. The first compared the cushion’s offloads to a loaded control (LC) with the cushion on static mode, and the second compared the cushion’s offloading mode to a standard manual offload performed by the participant. Three trials of each procedure were performed in randomized order. Tissue oxygenation was continuously monitored with three oxygenation parameters analysed: oxygen saturation (SO2), oxygenated haemoglobin (OxyHb), and deoxygenated haemoglobin (DeoxyHb). Data recordings were segmented in each step of the offloading sequence for analysis. A paired t-test was performed for comparisons with significance considered at α = 0.05. Ten healthy adults participated in the study.Results showed that as the air bladders deflated over time, the three evaluated parameters changed, affecting oxygenation even when other tissue areas were offloaded. The results indicated that the cushion’s sacral offload had the greatest impact on improving tissue oxygenation among the five air-bladders in all ten subjects (p < 0.05). Furthermore, SO2 during the cushion’s offload in the sacral region was similar to a manual offload. The study results suggest that the cushion could benefit tissue oxygenation, especially for individuals unable to change positions independently. Further research is needed to determine its effectiveness for wheelchair users.The cushion’s offloads, which involved deflating its five air-cell bladders one at a time for a specific duration, improved tissue oxygenation in the gluteal region of non-disabled individuals while seated.The cushion’s offload in the sacral region had the greatest impact on improving tissue oxygenation among the five air-bladders in all ten subjects.This cushion could be an alternative for users who have limitations in performing pressure relief manoeuvres for the prevention of pressure injuries.A cushion that enhances tissue oxygenation while the user remains seated allows longer sitting periods, improving their quality of life, regardless of their ability to perform pressure relief manoeuvres.The cushion’s offloads, which involved deflating its five air-cell bladders one at a time for a specific duration, improved tissue oxygenation in the gluteal region of non-disabled individuals while seated.The cushion’s offload in the sacral region had the greatest impact on improving tissue oxygenation among the five air-bladders in all ten subjects.This cushion could be an alternative for users who have limitations in performing pressure relief manoeuvres for the prevention of pressure injuries.A cushion that enhances tissue oxygenation while the user remains seated allows longer sitting periods, improving their quality of life, regardless of their ability to perform pressure relief manoeuvres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entropy measures are increasingly being used to analyze the structure of neural activity observed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), with resting‐state networks (RSNs) being of interest for their reproducible descriptions of the brain's functional architecture. Temporal correlations have shown a dichotomy among these networks: those that engage with the environment, known as extrinsic, which include the visual and sensorimotor networks; and those associated with executive control and self‐referencing, known as intrinsic, which include the default mode network and the frontoparietal control network. While these inter‐voxel temporal correlations enable the assessment of synchrony among the components of individual networks, entropic measures introduce an intra‐voxel assessment that quantifies signal features encoded within each blood oxygen level‐dependent (BOLD) time series. As a result, this framework offers insights into comprehending the representation and processing of information within fMRI signals. Multiscale entropy (MSE) has been proposed as a useful measure for characterizing the entropy of neural activity across different temporal scales. This measure of temporal entropy in BOLD data is dependent on the length of the time series; thus, high‐quality data with fine‐grained temporal resolution and a sufficient number of time frames is needed to improve entropy precision. We apply MSE to the Midnight Scan Club, a highly sampled and well‐characterized publicly available dataset, to analyze the entropy distribution of RSNs and evaluate its ability to distinguish between different functional networks. Entropy profiles are compared across temporal scales and RSNs. Our results have shown that the spatial distribution of entropy at infra‐slow frequencies (0.005–0.1 Hz) reproduces known parcellations of RSNs. We found a complexity hierarchy between intrinsic and extrinsic RSNs, with intrinsic networks robustly exhibiting higher entropy than extrinsic networks. Finally, we found new evidence that the topography of entropy in the posterior cerebellum exhibits high levels of entropy comparable to that of intrinsic RSNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in neuroimaging acquisition protocols and denoising techniques, along with increasing magnetic field strengths, have dramatically improved the temporal signal‐to‐noise ratio (tSNR) in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This permits spatial resolution with submillimeter voxel sizes and ultrahigh temporal resolution and opens a route toward performing precision fMRI in the brains of individuals. Yet ultrahigh spatial and temporal resolution comes at a cost: it reduces tSNR and, therefore, the sensitivity to the blood oxygen level‐dependent (BOLD) effect and other functional contrasts across the brain. Here we investigate the potential of various smoothing filters to improve BOLD sensitivity while preserving the spatial accuracy of activated clusters in single‐subject analysis. We introduce adaptive‐weight smoothing with optimized metrics (AWSOM), which addresses this challenge extremely well. AWSOM employs a local inference approach that is as sensitive as cluster‐corrected inference of data smoothed with large Gaussian kernels, but it preserves spatial details across multiple tSNR levels. This is essential for examining whole‐brain fMRI data because tSNR varies across the entire brain, depending on the distance of a brain region from the receiver coil, the type of setup, acquisition protocol, preprocessing, and resolution. We found that cluster correction in single subjects results in inflated family‐wise error and false positive rates. AWSOM effectively suppresses false positives while remaining sensitive even to small clusters of activated voxels. Furthermore, it preserves signal integrity, that is, the relative activation strength of significant voxels, making it a valuable asset for a wide range of fMRI applications. Here we demonstrate these features and make AWSOM freely available to the research community for download. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) frequently experience chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, with the inflammasome playing a central role in OSA. This cross-sectional study evaluated the relationship between weight status, autonomic function, and systemic inflammation in a cohort of 55 children with OSA, predominantly boys (78%) with an average age of 7.4 ± 2.2 years and an apnea-hypopnea index of 14.12 ± 17.05 events/hour. Measurements were taken of body mass index (BMI), sleep heart-rate variability, morning circulatory levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, and interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, anthropometry, and polysomnography. Multiple linear regression modeling showed that an apnea-hypopnea index was significantly associated with BMI, the standard deviation of successive differences between normal-to-normal intervals during N3 sleep, and the proportion of normal-to-normal interval pairs differing by more than 50 ms during rapid-eye-movement sleep. A moderated mediation model revealed that interleukin-1 receptor antagonist levels mediated the association between BMI and interleukin-6 levels, with sympathovagal balance during N3 sleep and minimum blood oxygen saturation further moderating these relationships. This study highlights the complex relationships between BMI, polysomnographic parameters, sleep heart-rate-variability metrics, and inflammatory markers in children with OSA, underlining the importance of weight management in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a critical condition characterized by significant brain damage due to insufficient blood flow and oxygen delivery at birth, leading to high rates of neonatal mortality and long-term neurological deficits worldwide. 2,3-Diphosphoglyceric acid (2,3-DPG), a small molecule metabolite prevalent in erythrocytes, plays an important role in regulating oxygen delivery, but its potential neuroprotective role in hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) has yet to be fully elucidated. Our research reveals that the administration of 2,3-DPG effectively reduces neuron damage caused by hypoxia-ischemia (HI) both in vitro and in vivo. We observed a notable decrease in HI-induced neuronal cell apoptosis, attributed to the downregulation of Bax and cleaved-caspase 3, alongside an upregulation of Bcl-2 expression. Furthermore, 2,3-DPG significantly alleviates oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R). The administration of 2,3-DPG in rats subjected to HIBD resulted in a marked reduction in brain edema and infarct volume, achieved through the suppression of neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammation. Using RNA-seq analysis, we validated that 2,3-DPG offers protection against neuronal apoptosis under HI conditions by modulating the p38 MAPK pathway. These insights indicated that 2,3-DPG might act as a promising novel therapeutic candidate for HIE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Tumor metastasis and recurrence are closely related to immune escape and hypoxia. Chemodynamic therapy (CDT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and photothermal therapy (PTT) can induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), and their combination with immune checkpoint agents is a promising therapeutic strategy. Iron based nanomaterials have received more and more attention, but their low Fenton reaction efficiency has hindered their clinical application. In this study, Fe 3 O 4 -carbon dots complex (Fe 3 O 4 -CDs) was synthesized, which was modified with ferrocenedicarboxylic acid by amide bond, and crosslinked into Fe 3 O 4 -CDs@Fc nano complex. The CDs catalyzed the Fenton reaction activity of Fe 3 O 4 by helping to improve the electron transfer efficiency, extended the reaction pH condition to 7.4. The Fe 3 O 4 -CDs@Fc exhibit exceptional optical activity, achieving a thermal conversion efficiency of 56.43 % under 808 nm light and a photosensitive single-line state oxygen quantum yield of 33 % under 660 nm light. Fe 3 O 4 -CDs@Fc improved intracellular oxygen level and inhibited hypoxia-inducing factor (HIF-1 α) by in-situ oxygen production based on Fenton reaction. The multimodal combination of Fe 3 O 4 -CDs@Fc (CDT/PDT/PTT) strongly induced immune cell death (ICD). The expression of immune-related protein and HIF-1 α was investigated by immunofluorescence method. In vivo, Fe 3 O 4 -CDs@Fc combined with immune checkpoint blocker (antibody PD-L1, αPD-L1) effectively ablated primary tumors and inhibited distal tumor growth. Fe 3 O 4 -CDs@Fc is a promising immune-antitumor drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aims to examine brain activity during dierent swallowing actions in patients with dysphagia caused by medullary infarction (MI) before and after treatment using blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: Fifteen patients were enrolled in this study. Brain activation during saliva swallowing and eortful saliva swallowing was observed using BOLD imaging in the acute phase of stroke and after 4 weeks of rehabilitation training. Dierences in the activation of brain regions during saliva swallowing before and after treatment, during eortful saliva swallowing before and after treatment, and between the two swallowing actions before and after treatment were compared. Results: In the acute phase of stroke, only the bilateral precentral and left lingual gyrus were partially activated during saliva swallowing, and there was no obvious activation in the insula. Eortful saliva swallowing activated more brain regions than saliva swallowing before treatment, including the bilateral supplementary motor area (SMA), postcentral gyrus, and right insular cortex. The number of brain regions activated during saliva swallowing increased after treatment, including the bilateral precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, insula, thalamus, and SMA. Discussion: Cortical activation increases after recovery from dysphagia, and the increased activation of the postcentral gyrus might play a functional compensatory role. Eortful saliva swallowing is a more eective rehabilitation training method for patients with dysphagia caused [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary Recent advances in transition metal‐catalyzed o‐carborane B—H activation have led to the rapid development of various methodologies for cage boron functionalization. For catalytic cage B—H acyloxylation, intermolecular oxygenation gave products with different regioselectivities (B(3)‐, B(4)‐, and B(8,9)‐selectivities). Herein, an efficient palladium‐catalyzed direct cage B(4)–H oxygenation of o‐carboranylacetic acids has been achieved, where the carboxylic group serves as not only a directing group, but also a coupling partner. A wide range of substituted o‐carboranylacetic acids have been cyclized via the formation of B(4)−O bond to give the corresponding γ‐lactones in modest to excellent yields. A Pd(IV) intermediate is proposed to be involved in the catalytic cycle. This work offers valuable references for the BH/OH dehydrocoupling reactions under mild conditions to produce carborane‐featuring functional molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Exploring gender differences in cognitive abilities offers vital insights into human brain functioning. Methods: Our study utilized advanced techniques like magnetic resonance thermometry, standard working memory n-back tasks, and functional MRI to investigate if gender-based variations in brain temperature correlate with distinct neuronal responses and working memory capabilities. Results: We observed a significant decrease in average brain temperature in males during working memory tasks, a phenomenon not seen in females. Although changes in female brain temperature were significantly lower than in males, we found an inverse relationship between the absolute temperature change (ATC) and cognitive performance, alongside a correlation with blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal change induced by neural activity. This suggests that in females, ATC is a crucial determinant for the link between cognitive performance and BOLD responses, a linkage not evident in males. However, we also observed additional female specific BOLD responses aligned with comparable task performance to that of males. Discussion: Our results suggest that females compensate for their brain's heightened temperature sensitivity by activating additional neuronal networks to support working memory. This study not only underscores the complexity of gender differences in cognitive processing but also opens new avenues for understanding how temperature fluctuations influence brain functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cinnamomum camphora is a commercially important tree species in China, and it's also a common native tree in the forests of southern China. However, literature on the impact of Cinnamomum camphora essential oil (CCEO) on human psychophysiological activity is scarce. Hence, the primary objective of this study was to examine the effect of exposure to CCEO on the functioning of the human autonomic nervous system, electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, and emotional state. Methods: Forty-three healthy university students participated. The data collected included heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), pulse rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, and the results of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) test. Results: A drop in diastolic pressure (DBP) and pulse rate was also noticed after participants inhaled CCEO. Furthermore, EEG studies have demonstrated notable reductions in absolute beta (AB), absolute gamma (AG), absolute high beta (AHB), and relative gamma (RG) power spectra during exposure to CCEO. Conversely, the relative theta (RT) and power spectra values showed a significant increase. Additionally, the finding from POMS indicated that the fragrance evoked positive emotions and suppressed negative feelings. Conclusion: The results suggest that exposure to CCEO may promote mental and physical relaxation, facilitate cognitive processes such as memory and attention, and enhance mood states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report a general copper‐catalyzed method for the tunable oxygenative rearrangement of tetrahydrocarbazoles to cyclopentyl‐bearing spiroindolin‐2‐ones and spiroindolin‐3‐ones. The method demonstrates excellent chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, and product control simply by using the H2O and O2 as oxygen source, respectively. This open‐flask method is safe and simple to operate, and no other chemical oxidants are required. Besides, inspired from the unique pathway of 1, 2‐migration rearrangement, a highly controllable hydroxylation of indoles for the construction of C3a‐hydroxyl iminium indolines was also developed. Mechanistic experiments suggest that a single‐electron transfer‐induced oxidation process is responsible for the tunable selectivity control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commencing with the breakdown of the diabetic osteoimmune microenvironment, multiple pathogenic factors, including hyperglycemia, inflammation, hypoxia, and deleterious cytokines, are conjointly involved in the progression of diabetic periodontal bone regeneration. Based on the challenge of periodontal bone regeneration treatment and the absence of real‐time feedback of blood oxygen fluctuation in diabetes mellitus, a novel self‐adaptive hyperthermia supramolecular cascade nano‐reactor ACFDG is constructed via one‐step supramolecular self‐assembly strategy to address multiple factors in diabetic periodontal bone regeneration. Hyperthermia supramolecular ACFDG possesses high photothermal conversion efficiency (32.1%), and it can effectively inhibit the vicious cycle of ROS‐inflammatory cascade through catalytic cascade reactions, up‐regulate the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) under near‐infrared (NIR) irradiation, which promotes periodontal bone regeneration. Remarkably, ACFDG can provide real‐time non‐invasive diagnosis of blood oxygen changes during periodontal bone regeneration through photoacoustic (PA) imaging, thus can timely monitor periodontal hypoxia status. In conclusion, this multifunctional supramolecular nano‐reactor combined with PA imaging for real‐time efficacy monitoring provides important insights into the biological mechanisms of diabetic periodontal bone regeneration and potential clinical theranostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a patient with interstitial lung disease (ILD) of known or unknown etiology other than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) is defined by worsening lung fibrosis on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), decline in lung function, and/or deterioration in symptoms. The INBUILD trial involved 663 patients with PPF who were randomized to receive nintedanib or placebo. The median exposure to trial medication was approximately 19 months. The INBUILD trial provided valuable learnings about the course of PPF and the efficacy and safety of nintedanib. The relative effect of nintedanib on reducing the rate of forced vital capacity decline was consistent across subgroups based on ILD diagnosis, HRCT pattern, and disease severity at baseline, and between patients who were and were not taking glucocorticoids or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and/or glucocorticoids at baseline. The adverse events most frequently associated with nintedanib were gastrointestinal, particularly diarrhea, but nintedanib was discontinued in only a minority of cases. The results of the INBUILD trial highlight the importance of prompt detection and treatment of PPF and the utility of nintedanib as a treatment option. Plain language summary: What did we find out from the INBUILD trial about progressive lung fibrosis? Lung fibrosis is a rare disease in which the lung tissue becomes scarred and hardened. This makes it more difficult for the lungs to inflate and for the lungs to exchange oxygen with the blood. In some patients, lung fibrosis gets worse over time. This is known as progressive lung fibrosis. In the INBUILD trial, researchers looked at the effects of a drug called nintedanib in patients with progressive lung fibrosis. In this trial, 663 patients were randomly allocated to receive either nintedanib or a placebo and then followed for approximately 19 months. The patients and the researchers did not know which patients were taking the active drug (nintedanib) and which patients were taking placebo. The results showed that the criteria used to find patients with progressive lung fibrosis to take part in the trial successfully identified patients whose disease would continue to worsen. These criteria were based on a decline in the volume (size) of the lungs, worsening symptoms such as shortness of breath, and worsening of changes seen on a scan of the chest. The trial results also showed that nintedanib slowed down loss of lung function and had a similar benefit in patients with different severities of disease at the start of the trial. The most common side-effects of nintedanib were gastrointestinal problems, particularly diarrhea, but most patients given nintedanib were able to cope with these side-effects without needing to stop treatment. Large trials like the INBUILD trial are important for helping us understand how diseases progress and in which patients particular drugs should be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mortality rate is approximately 20% and the frequency of neurodevelopmental sequelae in surviving newborns is approximately 30% in perinatal asphyxia; hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is brain dysfunction due to lack of oxygen and blood supply to the brain. Aims and Objectives: This study was conducted to predict the pattern of neuromotor outcome as early as 3 months using Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) in term hypoxic babies and its relation with the Thompson score (HIE score). Materials and Methods: One-hundred twenty four term newborns with hypoxic babies were admitted to the neonatal care unit from January 2021 to August 2021. Thompson scoring was done on admission and subsequently reviewed. Discharged babies were followed up at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year of age. A neurological examination (HINE) was done in this high-risk follow-up clinic. Maximum Thompson score was correlated with neurological score at various months. The earliest predictability of neurological examination was done at 3 months and was correlated with the neurological examination done at 12 months. Results: The correlation between the Thompson score and the 3-month score is -0.65 indicating a strong negative association between the two measurements. The correlation between 3 months and 6 months and 1-year neurological scores was moderately associated with each other. Conclusion: The maximum Thompson score was significantly higher in the mortality group compared to the discharged group. Thompson score has a significant correlation with the 3, 6, and 12-month neurological scores examined by HINE. The 3-month neurological outcome has a very significant correlation with the 1-year outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) utilizing multi-echo gradient echo-planar imaging (ME-GE-EPI) has demonstrated higher sensitivity and stability compared to utilizing single-echo gradient echo-planar imaging (SE-GE-EPI). The direct derivation of T2* maps from fitting multi-echo data enables accurate recording of dynamic functional changes in the brain, exhibiting higher sensitivity than echo combination maps. However, the widely employed voxel-wise log-linear fitting is susceptible to inevitable noise accumulation during image acquisition. (2) Methods: This work introduced a synthetic data-driven deep learning (SD-DL) method to obtain T2* maps for multi-echo (ME) fMRI analysis. (3) Results: The experimental results showed the efficient enhancement of the temporal signal-to-noise ratio (tSNR), improved task-based blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) percentage signal change, and enhanced performance in multi-echo independent component analysis (MEICA) using the proposed method. (4) Conclusion: T2* maps derived from ME-fMRI data using the proposed SD-DL method exhibit enhanced BOLD sensitivity in comparison to T2* maps derived from the LLF method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate how inert gas affects the partial pressure of alveolar and venous blood using a fast and accurate operator splitting method (OSM). Unlike previous complex methods, such as the finite element method (FEM), OSM effectively separates governing equations into smaller sub‐problems, facilitating a better understanding of inert gas transport and exchange between blood capillaries and surrounding tissue. The governing equations were discretized with a fully implicit finite difference method (FDM), which enables the use of larger time steps. The model employed partial differential equations, considering convection‐diffusion in blood and only diffusion in tissue. The study explores the impact of initial arterial pressure, breathing frequency, blood flow velocity, solubility, and diffusivity on the partial pressure of inert gas in blood and tissue. Additionally, the effects of anesthetic inert gas and oxygen on venous blood partial pressure were analyzed. Simulation results demonstrate that the high solubility and diffusivity of anesthetic inert gas lead to its prolonged presence in blood and tissue, resulting in lower partial pressure in venous blood. These findings enhance our understanding of inert gas interaction with alveolar/venous blood, with potential implications for medical diagnostics and therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Surgery for congenital scoliosis correction in children is often associated with considerable blood loss. Decrease in regional oxygen saturation (rScO2) can reflect insufficient cerebral perfusion and predict neurological complications. This retrospective observational study explored the relationship between blood loss during this surgery and a decrease in rScO2 in children. Methods: The following clinical data of children aged 3–14 years who underwent elective posterior scoliosis correction between March 2019 and July 2021 were collected: age, sex, height, weight, baseline rScO2, basal mean invasive arterial pressure (MAP), preoperative Cobb angle, number of surgical segments, preoperative and postoperative haemoglobin level, percentage of lowest rScO2 below the baseline value that lasted 3 min or more during the operation (decline of rScO2 from baseline, D‐rScO2%), intraoperative average invasive MAP, end‐tidal carbon dioxide pressure, fluid infusion rate of crystalloids and colloids, operation time, and percentage of total blood loss/patient's blood volume (TBL/PBV). Results: A total of 105 children were included in the study. Massive haemorrhage (TBL/PBV ≥50%) was reported in 53.3% of patients, who had significantly higher D‐rScO2 (%) (t = −5.264, P < 0.001) than those who had non‐massive haemorrhage (TBL/PBV <50%). Multiple regression analysis revealed that TBL/PBV (β = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.018–0.062, P < 0.05) was significantly associated with D‐rScO2%. Conclusions: Intraoperative massive blood loss in children significantly increased D‐rScO2%. Monitoring should be improved, and timely blood supplementation should be performed to ensure maintenance of the blood and oxygen supply to vital organs, improve the safety of anaesthesia, and avoid neurological complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study focuses on evaluating the disruptions in key physiological parameters during microstroke events to assess their severity. Methods: A mathematical model was developed to simulate the changes in cerebral tissue pO2, glucose concentration, and temperature due to blood flow interruptions. The model considers variations in baseline cerebral blood flow (CBF), capillary density, and blood oxygen/glucose levels, as well as ambient temperature changes. Results: Simulations indicate that complete blood flow obstruction still allows for limited glucose availability, supporting nonoxidative metabolism and potentially exacerbating lactate buildup and acidosis. Partial obstructions decrease tissue pO2, with minimal impact on glucose level, which can remain almost unchanged or even slightly increase. Reduced CBF, capillary density, or blood oxygen due to aging or disease enhances hypoxia risk at lower obstruction levels, with capillary density having a significant effect on stroke severity by influencing both pO2 and glucose levels. Conditions could lead to co‐occurrence of hypoxia/hypoglycemia or hypoxia/hyperglycemia, each worsening outcomes. Temperature effects were minimal in deep brain regions but varied near the skull by 0.2–0.8°C depending on ambient temperature. Conclusions: The model provides insights into the conditions driving severe stroke outcomes based on estimated levels of hypoxia, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and temperature changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White matter (WM) functional activity has been reliably detected through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Previous studies have primarily examined WM bundles as unified entities, thereby obscuring the functional heterogeneity inherent within these bundles. Here, for the first time, we investigate the function of sub‐bundles of a prototypical visual WM tract—the optic radiation (OR). We use the 7T retinotopy dataset from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) to reconstruct OR and further subdivide the OR into sub‐bundles based on the fiber's termination in the primary visual cortex (V1). The population receptive field (pRF) model is then applied to evaluate the retinotopic properties of these sub‐bundles, and the consistency of the pRF properties of sub‐bundles with those of V1 subfields is evaluated. Furthermore, we utilize the HCP working memory dataset to evaluate the activations of the foveal and peripheral OR sub‐bundles, along with LGN and V1 subfields, during 0‐back and 2‐back tasks. We then evaluate differences in 2bk‐0bk contrast between foveal and peripheral sub‐bundles (or subfields), and further examine potential relationships between 2bk‐0bk contrast and 2‐back task d‐prime. The results show that the pRF properties of OR sub‐bundles exhibit standard retinotopic properties and are typically similar to the properties of V1 subfields. Notably, activations during the 2‐back task consistently surpass those under the 0‐back task across foveal and peripheral OR sub‐bundles, as well as LGN and V1 subfields. The foveal V1 displays significantly higher 2bk‐0bk contrast than peripheral V1. The 2‐back task d‐prime shows strong correlations with 2bk‐0bk contrast for foveal and peripheral OR fibers. These findings demonstrate that the blood oxygen level‐dependent (BOLD) signals of OR sub‐bundles encode high‐fidelity visual information, underscoring the feasibility of assessing WM functional activity at the sub‐bundle level. Additionally, the study highlights the role of OR in the top‐down processes of visual working memory beyond the bottom‐up processes for visual information transmission. Conclusively, this study innovatively proposes a novel paradigm for analyzing WM fiber tracts at the individual sub‐bundle level and expands understanding of OR function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the influence of acute normobaric hypoxia on standing balance under single and dual-task conditions, both with and without visual input. Methods: 20 participants (7 female, 20–31 years old) stood on a force plate for 16, 90-s trials across four balance conditions: single-task (quiet stance) or dual-task (auditory Stroop test), with eyes open or closed. Trials were divided into four oxygen conditions where the fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) was manipulated (normoxia: 0.21 and normobaric hypoxia: 0.16, 0.145 and 0.13 FIO2) to simulate altitudes of 1100, 3,400, 4300, and 5200 m. Participants breathed each FIO2 for ~ 3 min before testing, which lasted an additional 7–8 min per oxygen condition. Cardiorespiratory measures included heart rate, peripheral blood oxygen saturation, and pressure of end tidal (PET) CO2 and O2. Center of pressure measures included total path length, 95% ellipse area, and anteroposterior and mediolateral velocity. Auditory Stroop test performance was measured as response accuracy and latency. Results: Significant decreases in oxygen saturation and PETO2, and increased heart rate were observed between normoxia and normobaric hypoxia (P < 0.0001). Total path length was higher at 0.13 compared to 0.21 FIO2 for the eyes closed no Stoop test condition (P = 0.0197). No other significant differences were observed. Conclusion: These findings suggest that acute normobaric hypoxia has a minimal impact on standing balance and does not influence auditory Stroop test or dual-task performance. Further investigation with longer exposure is required to understand the impact and time course of normobaric hypoxia on standing balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With ascent to high altitude (HA), compensatory increases in cerebral blood flow and oxygen delivery must occur to preserve cerebral metabolism and consciousness. We hypothesized that this compensation in cerebral blood flow and oxygen delivery preserves tolerance to simulated hemorrhage (via lower body negative pressure, LBNP), such that tolerance is similar during sustained exposure to HA vs. low altitude (LA). Healthy humans (4F/4 M) participated in LBNP protocols to presyncope at LA (1130 m) and 5–7 days following ascent to HA (3800 m). Internal carotid artery (ICA) blood flow, cerebral delivery of oxygen (CDO2) through the ICA, and cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (ScO2) were determined. LBNP tolerance was similar between conditions (LA: 1276 ± 304 s vs. HA: 1208 ± 306 s; P = 0.58). Overall, ICA blood flow and CDO2 were elevated at HA vs. LA (P ≤ 0.01) and decreased with LBNP under both conditions (P < 0.0001), but there was no effect of altitude on ScO2 responses (P = 0.59). Thus, sustained exposure to hypobaric hypoxia did not negatively impact tolerance to simulated hemorrhage. These data demonstrate the robustness of compensatory physiological mechanisms that preserve human cerebral blood flow and oxygen delivery during sustained hypoxia, ensuring cerebral tissue metabolism and neuronal function is maintained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gold standard for skin cancer diagnosis is surgical excisional biopsy and histopathological examination. Several non-invasive diagnostic techniques exist, although they have not yet translated into clinical use. This is a proof-of-concept study to assess the possibility of imaging an angiosarcoma in the periocular area. We use laser speckle, hyperspectral, and photoacoustic imaging to monitor blood perfusion and oxygen saturation, as well as the molecular composition of the tissue. The information obtained from each imaging modality was combined in order to yield a more comprehensive picture of the function, as well as molecular composition of a rapidly growing cutaneous angiosarcoma in the periocular area. We found an increase in perfusion coupled with a reduction in oxygen saturation in the angiosarcoma. We could also extract the molecular composition of the angiosarcoma at a depth, depicting both the oxygen saturation and highlighting the presence of connective tissue via collagen. We demonstrate the different physiological parameters that can be obtained with the different techniques and how these can be combined to provide detailed 3D maps of the functional and molecular properties of tumors useful in preoperative assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior studies of muscle blood flow and muscle-specific oxygen consumption have required invasive injection of dye and magnetic resonance imaging, respectively. Such measures have limited utility for continuous monitoring of the respiratory muscles. Frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (FD-NIRS & DCS) can provide continuous surrogate measures of blood flow index (BFi) and metabolic rate of oxygen consumption (MRO2). This study aimed to validate sternocleidomastoid FD-NIRS & DCS outcomes against electromyography (EMG) and mouth pressure (Pm) during incremental inspiratory threshold loading (ITL). Six female and six male healthy adults (means ± SD; 30 ± 7 yr, maximum inspiratory pressure 118 ± 61 cmH2O) performed incremental ITL starting at low loads (8 ± 2 cmH2O) followed by 50-g increments every 2 min until task failure. FD-NIRS & DCS continuously measured sternocleidomastoid oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin + myoglobin (oxy/deoxy[Hb + Mb]), tissue saturation of oxygen (StO2), BFi, and MRO2. Ventilatory parameters including inspiratory Pm were also evaluated. Pm increased during incremental ITL (P < 0.05), reaching −47[−74 to −34] cmH2O (median [IQR: 25%–75%]) at task failure. Ventilatory parameters were constant throughout ITL (all P > 0.05). Sternocleidomastoid BFi and MRO2 increased from the start of the ITL (both P < 0.05). Deoxy[Hb + Mb] increased close to task failure, concomitantly with a constant increase in MRO2, and decreased StO2. Sternocleidomastoid deoxy[Hb + Mb], BFi, StO2, and MRO2 obtained during ITL via FD-NIRS & DCS correlated with sternocleidomastoid EMG (all P < 0.05). In healthy adults, FD-NIRS & DCS can provide continuous surrogate measures of respiratory BFi and MRO2. Increasing sternocleidomastoid oxygen consumption near task failure was associated with increased oxygen extraction and reduced tissue saturation. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: This study introduces a novel approach, frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (FD-NIRS & DCS), for noninvasive continuous monitoring of respiratory muscle blood flow and metabolic rate of oxygen consumption. Unlike prior methods involving invasive dye injection and magnetic resonance imaging, FD-NIRS & DCS offers the advantage of continuous measurement without the need for invasive procedures. It holds promise for advancing muscle physiology understanding and opens avenues for real-time monitoring of respiratory muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brain relies on an effective clearance mechanism to remove metabolic waste products for the maintenance of homeostasis. Recent studies have focused on elucidating the forces that drive the motion of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), responsible for removal of these waste products. We demonstrate that vascular responses evoked using controlled manipulations of partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) levels, serve as an endogenous driver of CSF clearance from the brain. To demonstrate this, we retrospectively surveyed our database, which consists of brain metastases patients from whom blood oxygen level‐dependent (BOLD) images were acquired during targeted hypercapnic and hyperoxic respiratory challenges. We observed a correlation between CSF inflow signal around the fourth ventricle and CO2‐induced changes in cerebral blood volume. By contrast, no inflow signal was observed in response to the nonvasoactive hyperoxic stimulus, validating our measurements. Moreover, our results establish a link between the rate of the hemodynamic response (to elevated PaCO2) and peritumoral edema load, which we suspect may affect CSF flow, consequently having implications for brain clearance. Our expanded perspective on the factors involved in neurofluid flow underscores the importance of considering both cerebrovascular responses, as well as the brain mechanical properties, when evaluating CSF dynamics in the context of disease processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Non‐invasive measurement of cerebral venous oxygenation (Yv) is of critical importance in brain diseases. The present work proposed a fast method to quantify regional Yv map for both large and small veins. Methods: A new sequence was developed, referred to as TRU‐VERA (T2 relaxation under velocity encoding and rapid acquisition, which isolates blood spins from static tissue with velocity‐encoding preparation, modulates the T2 weighting of venous signal with T2‐preparation and utilizes a bSSFP readout to achieve fast acquisition with high resolution. The sequence was first optimized to achieve best sensitivity for both large and small veins, and then validated with TRUST (T2 relaxation under spin tagging), TRUPC (T2 relaxation under phase contrast), and accelerated TRUPC MRI. Regional difference of Yv was evaluated, and test–retest reproducibility was examined. Results: Optimal Venc was determined to be 3 cm/s, while recovery time and balanced SSFP flip angle within reasonable range had minimal effect on SNR efficiency. Venous T2 measured with TRU‐VERA was highly correlated with T2 from TRUST (R2 = 0.90), and a conversion equation was established for further calibration to Yv. TRU‐VERA sequences showed consistent Yv estimation with TRUPC (R2 = 0.64) and accelerated TRUPC (R2 = 0.79). Coefficient of variation was 0.84% for large veins and 2.49% for small veins, suggesting an excellent test–retest reproducibility. Conclusion: The proposed TRU‐VERA sequence is a promising method for vessel‐specific oxygenation assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and efficient methodology for the selective oxygenation of benzylic C(sp3)−H bond and oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols using non‐noble photoredox copper catalyst under visible light irradiation is described. Notably, non‐noble copper photoredox catalysts were found to be good for the oxidation reactions when compared to various commercially available photoredox catalysts employed in the present methodology. In addition, oxygen as clean oxidant at room temperature and compatible for both the oxygenation and oxidation reactions. A wide range of carbonyl compounds bearing both electron rich and electron deficient substituents was synthesized in moderate to excellent yields under milder and environmentally friendly conditions. Also, a thorough investigation was carried out to understand the mechanism of both oxidation reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebral palsy is a disorder of central motor and postural development, resulting in limited mobility. Cerebral palsy is often accompanied by cognitive impairment and abnormal behavior, significantly impacting individuals and society. Time, energy, and economic investment in the rehabilitation process is substantial, yet the rehabilitation outcomes often remain unsatisfactory. Additionally, some patients have limited sensory perception during rehabilitation training, making it challenging to effectively regulate exercise intensity. Traditional evaluation methods are mostly based on recovery performance, lack guidance at the neurophysiological level, and have an unequal distribution of medical rehabilitation resources, which pose great challenges to the rehabilitation of patients. Based on the issues mentioned above, this paper proposes a real-time cerebral signal monitoring system based on wearable devices. This system can monitor and store blood oxygen, heart rate, myoelectric, and EEG signals during cerebral palsy rehabilitation, and it can track and monitor signals during the rehabilitation treatment process. The system includes two parts: hardware design and software design. The hardware design includes a data signal acquisition module, a main control chip (ESP32), a muscle electrical sensor module, a brain electrical sensor module, a blood/heart rate acquisition module, etc. It is primarily for real-time signal data acquisition, processing, and uploading to the cloud server. The software design includes functions such as data receiving, data processing, data storage, network configuration, and remote communication and enables the visual monitoring of data signals. The system can achieve real-time monitoring of electromyography, electroencephalography, and blood oxygen levels, as well as the heart rate of patients with cerebral palsy, and adjust rehabilitation training in real-time during the rehabilitation process. At the same time, based on the real-time storage of the original electromyography and electroencephalography data, it can provide auxiliary guidance for later rehabilitation evaluation and effective data support for the entire rehabilitation treatment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathogenic protein aggregates, called amyloids, are etiologically relevant to various diseases, including neurodegenerative Alzheimer disease. Catalytic photooxygenation of amyloids, such as amyloid‐β (Aβ), reduces their toxicity; however, the requirement for light irradiation may limit its utility in large animals, including humans, due to the low tissue permeability of light. Here, we report that Cypridina luciferin analogs, dmCLA‐Cl and dmCLA‐Br, promoted selective oxygenation of amyloids through chemiexcitation without external light irradiation. Further structural optimization of dmCLA‐Cl led to the identification of a derivative with a polar carboxylate functional group and low cellular toxicity: dmCLA‐Cl‐acid. dmCLA‐Cl‐acid promoted oxygenation of Aβ amyloid and reduced its cellular toxicity without photoirradiation. The chemiexcited oxygenation developed in this study may be an effective approach to neutralizing the toxicity of amyloids, which can accumulate deep inside the body, and treating amyloidosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Design Method Results Conclusion Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care Reporting Method Patient or Public Contribution Impact This study evaluates the effects of endotracheal suctioning duration on cerebral oxygenation and physiological parameters in preterm infants in intensive care.Prospective and observational s tudy.In this study, 51 preterm infants born at 28–34 weeks of gestation in NICU were evaluated. Cerebral oxygenation was measured before, during, and after endotracheal suctioning with near‐infrared spectroscopy. Pain levels of the infants were with N‐PASS scale.A negative correlation was found between the lowest cerebral oxygenation value during endotracheal suctioning and the duration of endotracheal suctioning. Cerebral oxygenation levels during endotracheal suctioning were lower than pre‐ and post‐endotracheal suctioning levels. Higher cerebral oxygenation was observed in infants whose endotracheal aspiration time was less than 13 s. The duration of endotracheal suctioning was positively correlated with pain and cerebral oxygenation stabilization time.Prolonged endotracheal suctioning duration negatively affects cerebral oxygenation in preterm infants. The study suggests an optimal endotracheal suctioning duration under 13 s.Properly executed endotracheal suctioning, with the correct technique and knowledge, can alleviate the adverse physiological effects observed in preterm infants and contribute to routine nursing care in intensive care units.This study has been reported in line with STROBE checklists.No patient or public contribution was required to design or undertake this research. Patients contributed only to the data collection.This study contributes to defining the ideal endotracheal aspiration duration, as there is not enough data so far. It showed the effect of prolonged endotracheal aspiration time on cerebral oxygenation, pain and physiological parameters in preterm infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood clotting caused by COVID-19 has made this disease much more severe than other respiratory diseases. An alarming number of COVID-19 patients developed blood clots that trigger heart attack, stroke, and other disasters. Currently, blood thinner medicines are the only treatment. While blood thinners lower the blood's ability to clot, they cannot disassemble existing blood clots. Many patients were not helped by them. Here we report our finding: Strong magnetic field can disassemble blood clots safely and effectively. This is attributed to the magnetic property of red cells and their unique disk shape. Hence, we have proposed a new treatment for patients with thrombosis: applying a strong magnetic field along the patients' arm or leg. When the blood clots come to the magnetic field, they are disassembled safely; red cells recover their oxygen function; the blood viscosity along the flow direction is reduced, turbulence in blood circulation is suppressed, and the incidence of heart attack and stroke can be prevented. With thrombosis occurring in COVID-19 patients, the magnetic treatment will resolve this urgent issue and greatly help the patients to recover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serine proteases are important regulators of airway epithelial homeostasis. Altered serum or cellular levels of two serpins, Scca1 and Spink5, have been described for airway diseases but their function beyond antiproteolytic activity is insufficiently understood. To close this gap, we generated fly lines with overexpression or knockdown for each gene in the airways. Overexpression of both fly homologues of Scca1 and Spink5 induced the growth of additional airway branches, with more variable results for the respective knockdowns. Dysregulation of Scca1 resulted in a general delay in fruit fly development, with increases in larval and pupal mortality following overexpression of this gene. In addition, the morphological changes in the airways were concomitant with lower tolerance to hypoxia. In conclusion, the observed structural changes of the airways evidently had a strong impact on the airway function in our model as they manifested in a lower physical fitness of the animals. We assume that this is due to insufficient tissue oxygenation. Future work will be directed at the identification of key molecular regulators following the airway-specific dysregulation of Scca1 and Spink5 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the application effect of different doses of remifentanil combined with remifentanil in painless gastroscopy in children. Methods: 165 pediatric patients who underwent painless gastroscopy from May 2023 to November 2023 were selected as the study subjects. They were randomly divided into four groups using a random number table method, namely R1 (n=40), R2 (n=40), R3 group (n=40), and Matched group (n=45). Patients in the Matched group were intravenously injected with 2 mg/kg propofol and 7% fentany l μg/kg, R1, R2, R3 groups intravenous injection of fentanyl 7 μg/kg and Remazolam, R1 group Remazolam is 0.2 mg/kg. The R2 group is 0.3 mg/kg, and the R3 group is 0.4 mg/kg. Gastroscopy should be performed when all patients have improved alertness/calmness (MOAA/S) scores ≤ 1. Compare the success rate of sedation, onset time of sedation, awakening time, gastroscopy examination time, and number of times of remedial sedation among four groups of children. Evaluate the degree of sedation using MOAA/S scores before administration, after initial administration, before endoscopy, and immediately after examination. Record the changes in heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate (HR), and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) of the four groups of children before anesthesia induction (T0), at entry (T1), and after anesthesia induction (T2), Finally, compare the incidence of adverse reactions among the four groups of children. Results: There was no difference in the recovery time and gastroscopy examination time among the four groups of patients(P>0.05). The success rate of sedation in the R3 group was higher than that in the R1 group, R2 group, and Matched group. The onset time of sedation and the number of times of remedial sedation were lower than those in the R1 group, R2 group, and Matched group (P<0.05); There was no difference in MOAA/S scores among the four groups of patients before administration and immediately after examination(P>0.05). After the first administration and before endoscopy, the MOAA/S scores of R3 group patients were lower than those of R1 group, R2 group, and Matched group (P<0.05); There was no change in blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels and heart rate (HR) levels at T0, T1, and T2 time in the four groups of patients, and there was no difference between the four groups(P>0.05). The HR levels of patients in the T2 and R3 groups were stable, but there were fluctuations between the R1 and R2 groups and the Matched group. The T1 and R3 group was lower than the R1 and R2 groups and the Matched group (P<0.05); The incidence of adverse reactions such as injection pain, laryngeal spasm, hypoxemia, hypotension, and bradycardia in patients in R1, R2, and R3 groups was lower than that in the Matched group (P<0.05), but there was no difference in the comparison of R1, R2, and R3 groups(P>0.05). Conclusion: The combination of Remazolam and Alfentanil can improve the sedative effect during gastroscopy in children, and Remazolam at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg is more effective. It can further improve the success rate of sedation, reduce the number of times of remedial sedation, and do not increase the awakening time. The sedative effect is better, and it can stabilize the heart rate level during the examination of children, with higher safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the application effect of posterior continuous intermuscular groove brachial plexus block combined with parecoxib sodium preemptive analgesia on patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopic surgery. Methods: 80 patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopic surgery from January 2020 to January 2023 were selected. They were randomly divided into three groups: A, B, and C, with 25 cases in Group A, 25 cases in Group B, and 30 cases in Group C. Group A received routine intravenous anesthesia, Group B received routine intravenous anesthesia combined with posterior continuous intermuscular sulcus brachial plexus block group, and Group C received posterior continuous intermuscular sulcus brachial plexus block combined with parecoxib sodium for preemptive analgesia. Compare the changes in heart rate, blood oxygen, and blood pressure levels, as well as changes in stress response indicators related to cortisol (COR) and norepinephrine (NE), among the three groups of patients at entry (T1), 10 minutes of surgery (T2), 30 minutes of surgery (T3), and immediately after surgery (T4). Compare the incidence of adverse reactions among the three groups of patients. Finally, conduct a 6-month outpatient follow-up for all patients, at preoperative and postoperative 1 month and 3 months, respectively The Constant Murley score was used to evaluate the shoulder joint function of three groups of patients at 6 months. Results: There was no difference in heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, systolic and diastolic blood pressure among the three groups of patients at T1 and T4 time (P>0.05). The heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels of Group C were lower than those of Group A and Group B at T2 and T3 time (P<0.05), and the T1 to T4 time was relatively stable; There was no difference in the expression levels of COR and NE among the three groups of patients at T1 time(P>0.05), while the expression levels of COR and NE were increased in the three groups at T2 and T3 time. Moreover, the expression levels of COR and NE in Group C were lower than those in Group A and Group B at T2, T3, and T4 time(P<0.05); There was no difference in the incidence of adverse reactions among patients in groups A, B and C (P>0.05); There was no difference in the preoperative Constant Murley scores among the three groups of patients. After 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months of surgery, the Constant Murley scores of the three groups of patients all increased, and Group C was significantly higher than Group A and Group B(P<0.05). Conclusion: For patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopic surgery, the combination of posterior continuous intermuscular groove brachial plexus block group and Parexib sodium for preemptive analgesia can stabilize intraoperative blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure levels, reduce intraoperative stress response, and have high safety. At the same time, it can further assist patients in improving long-term shoulder joint function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Monitoring blood oxygenation is essential in immobilised rhinoceros, which are susceptible to opioid-induced hypoxaemia. This study assessed the reliability, clinical performance and trending ability of the Nonin PalmSAT 2500 A pulse oximeter's and the Masimo Radical-7 pulse co-oximeter's dual-wavelength technology, with their probes placed at two measurement sites, the inner surface of the third-eyelid and the scarified ear pinna of immobilised white rhinoceroses. Eight white rhinoceros were immobilised with etorphine-based drug combinations and given butorphanol after 12 min, and oxygen after 40 min, of recumbency. The Nonin and Masimo devices, with dual-wavelength probes attached to the third-eyelid and ear recorded arterial peripheral oxygen-haemoglobin saturation (SpO2) at pre-determined time points, concurrently with measurements of arterial oxygen-haemoglobin saturation (SaO2), from drawn blood samples, by a benchtop AVOXimeter 4000 co-oximeter (reference method). Reliability of the Nonin and Masimo devices was evaluated using the Bland-Altman and the area root mean squares (ARMS) methods. Clinical performance of the devices was evaluated for their ability to accurately detect clinical hypoxemia using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and measures of sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. Trending ability of the devices was assessed by calculating concordance rates from four-quadrant plots. Results: Only the Nonin device with transflectance probe attached to the third-eyelid provided reliable SpO2 measurements across the 70 to 100% saturation range (bias − 1%, precision 4%, ARMS 4%). Nonin and Masimo devices with transflectance probes attached to the third-eyelid both had high clinical performance at detecting clinical hypoxaemia [area under the ROC curves (AUC): 0.93 and 0.90, respectively]. However, the Nonin and Masimo devices with transmission probes attached to the ear were unreliable and provided only moderate clinical performance. Both Nonin and Masimo devices, at both measurement sites, had concordance rates lower than the recommended threshold of ≥ 90%, indicating poor trending ability. Conclusions: The overall assessment of reliability, clinical performance and trending ability indicate that the Nonin device with transflectance probe attached to the third-eyelid is best suited for monitoring of blood oxygenation in immobilised rhinoceros. The immobilisation procedure may have affected cardiovascular function to an extent that it limited the devices' performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver ischemia‐reperfusion (I/R) injury is a common cause of organ failure, developed by a sudden block in the blood and oxygen supply and subsequent restoration. I/R damage is responsible for acute and chronic rejection after organ transplantation, accounting for 10% of early graft failure. The study investigated the therapeutic properties of fangchinoline in liver injury‐induced rats. The rats were divided into three groups: Sham, I/R without pretreatment, and I/R + 10 mg/kg fangchinoline pretreatment. Blood and liver samples were collected for assays, and an in silico docking analysis was conducted to determine fangchinoline's inhibitory effect. The pretreatment with 10 mg/kg of fangchinoline effectively reduced hepatic marker enzymes such as AST, LDH, and ALT in the serum of rats with liver I/R damage. Fangchinoline treatment significantly reduced interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), IL‐6, and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) in I/R‐induced rats, boosting antioxidants and decreasing MDA. Histopathological studies showed liver injury protection, and fangchinoline inhibited TNF‐α and IL‐6 with improved binding affinity. Fangchinoline has hepatoprotective properties by reducing inflammation in rats with liver I/R damage, as demonstrated in the current study. Hence, it can be an effective salutary agent in preventing liver damage caused by I/R. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]