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BackgroundThis investigation seeks to ascertain the efficacy of various machine learning models in forecasting early neurological deterioration (END) following thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).MethodsEmploying data from the Shenyang Stroke Emergency Map database, this multicenter study compiled information on 7,570 AIS patients from 29 comprehensive hospitals who received thrombolytic therapy between January 2019 and December 2021. An independent testing cohort was constituted from 2,046 patients at the First People’s Hospital of Shenyang. The dataset incorporated 15 pertinent clinical and therapeutic variables. The principal outcome assessed was the occurrence of END post-thrombolysis. Model development was executed using an 80/20 split for training and internal validation, employing classifiers like logistic regression with lasso regularization (lasso regression), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), gradient-boosted decision tree (GBDT), and multi-layer perceptron (MLP). The model with the highest area under the curve (AUC) was utilized to delineate feature significance.ResultsBaseline characteristics showed variability in END incidence between the training (n = 7,570; END incidence 22%) and external validation cohorts (n = 2,046; END incidence 10%; p

Abstract To overcome current limitations in photoimmunotherapy, such as insufficient tumor antigen generation and a subdued immune response, a novel photo‐/metallo dual‐mode immunotherapeutic agent (PMIA) is introduced for potent near‐infrared (NIR) light‐triggered cancer therapy. PMIA features a dumbbell‐like AuPt heterostructure decorated with starry Pt nanoclusters, meticulously engineered for enhancing plasmonic catalysis through multi‐dimensional regulation of Pt growth on Au nanorods. Under NIR laser exposure, end‐tipped Pt nanoclusters induce efficient electron‐hole spatial separation along the longitudinal axis, resulting in radial and axial electron distribution polarization, conferring unique anisotropic properties to PMIA. Additionally, starry Pt nanoclusters on the sides of Au nanorods augment the local electron enrichment field. Validated through finite‐difference time‐domain analysis and Raman scattering, this configuration fosters local electron enrichment, facilitating robust reactive oxygen species generation for potent photoimmunotherapy. Moreover, Pt nanoclusters facilitate Pt2+ ion release, instigating intranuclear DNA damage and inducing synergistic immunogenic cell death (ICD) for metalloimmunotherapy. Consequently, PMIA elicits abundant danger‐associated molecular patterns, promotes T cell infiltration, and triggers systemic immune responses, effectively treating primary and distant tumors, inhibiting metastasis in vivo. This study unveils a pioneering dual‐mode ICD amplification strategy driven by NIR light, synergistically integrating photoimmunotherapy and metalloimmunotherapy, culminating in potent cancer photometalloimmunotherapy.

Abstract Background Oxidative stress and inflammation can lead to apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells (GCs), resulting in ovulation disorders and infertility. Baicalin (BAI) promotes cell proliferation and reduces inflammation and oxidative stress. However, the mechanisms by which BAI treatment affects oxidative stress and inflammation in GCs remain incompletely understood. Methods KGN cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to analyze the effect of oxidative stress on GCs in vitro. Subsequently, H2O2-stimulated KGN cells were treated with BAI. The levels of GSH-Px, CAT, and SOD were measured using an activity assay kit. The levels of MDA, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were measured by ELISA. Proliferation, apoptosis, and mRNA and protein levels were measured using the CCK8, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, and western blotting. Results H2O2 treatment inhibited KGN cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis, accompanied by increased oxidative stress and inflammation. BAI promoted proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, and reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in H2O2-stimulated KGN cells. BAI treatment promoted USP48 protein expression, and USP48 knockdown abrogated the protective effects of BAI, indicating that USP48 is a downstream mediator of BAI. Conclusion BAI treatment enhanced cell proliferation and ameliorated oxidative stress and inflammation by enhancing USP48 protein expression. BAI, which is used clinically and as a dietary supplement, may alleviate oxidative stress-induced GC injury and ovarian disorders.

Background: Cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38) has been found to be highly expressed in various solid tumours, and its expression level may be associated with patient prognosis and survival. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of CD38 expression for patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and construct two computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics models for predicting CD38 expression. Methods: A total of 333 cases of EOC were enrolled from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database for CD38-related bioinformatics and survival analysis. A total of 56 intersection cases from TCGA and The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA) databases were selected for radiomics feature extraction and model construction. Logistic regression (LR) and support vector machine (SVM) models were constructed and internally validated using 5-fold cross-validation to assess the performance of the models for CD38 expression levels. Results: High CD38 expression was an independent protective factor (HR = 0.540) for overall survival (OS) in EOC patients. Five radiomics features based on CT images were selected to build models for the prediction of CD38 expression. In the training and internal validation sets, for the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the LR model reached an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.739 and 0.732, while the SVM model achieved AUC values of 0.741 and 0.700, respectively. For the precision-recall (PR) curve, the LR and SVM models demonstrated an AUC of 0.760 and 0.721. The calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA) provided evidence supporting the fitness and net benefit of the models. Conclusions: High levels of CD38 expression can improve OS in EOC patients. CT-based radiomics models can be a new predictive tool for CD38 expression, offering possibilities for individualised survival assessment for patients with EOC.

Objectives Although nutritional support is beneficial to the visual rehabilitation of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a large gap continues to exist between the relevant guidelines and the actual practices of AMD patients; this gap can be attributed to a lack of nutritional literacy. Therefore, this study explored the factors affecting nutritional literacy among AMD patients.Design A qualitative study was carried out based on individual in-person interviews with 15 AMD patients; a semistructured interview guide was used for data collection. The socioecological model (SEM) was employed for data analysis.Setting The Southwest Hospital in Chongqing Province, China.Participants A purposive sample of 15 AMD patients was recruited between May and June 2023.Results The social ecosystem of patients with AMD has not been positive. At the intrapersonal level, the factors affecting the nutritional literacy of such patients are lack of knowledge, nutrition self-efficacy, economic burdens, dietary preferences and health status. At the interpersonal level, the factors that can influence patients’ nutritional literacy are social support and social roles. At the institutional level, the relevant factors are doctor–patient trust and interdisciplinary-team consistency. Finally, at the policy level, a powerful factor is the large gap between policy and implementation.Discussion Nutritional literacy focuses on the changes in an individual’s knowledge and behaviour concerning nutrition. To inform the development of nutritional-literacy interventions for people with AMD, medical staff should consider multiple perspectives that can remove the barriers to the SEM at all levels.

BackgroundTimely intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is crucial for improving outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Acute Stroke Care Map (ASCaM) initiative in Shenyang, aimed at reducing door-to-needle times (DNT) and thus improving the timeliness of care for AIS patients.MethodsAn retrospective cohort study was conducted from April 2019 to December 2021 in 30 hospitals participating in the ASCaM initiative in Shenyang. The ASCaM bundle included strategies such as EMS prenotification, rapid stroke triage, on-call stroke neurologists, immediate neuroimaging interpretation, and the innovative Pre-hospital Emergency Call and Location Identification feature. An interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) was used to assess the impact of ASCaM on DNT, comparing 9 months pre-intervention with 24 months post-intervention.ResultsData from 9,680 IVT-treated ischemic stroke patients were analyzed, including 2,401 in the pre-intervention phase and 7,279 post-intervention. The ITSA revealed a significant reduction in monthly DNT by −1.12 min and a level change of −5.727 min post-ASCaM implementation.ConclusionThe ASCaM initiative significantly reduced in-hospital delays for AIS patients, demonstrating its effectiveness as a comprehensive stroke care improvement strategy in urban settings. These findings highlight the potential of coordinated care interventions to enhance timely access to reperfusion therapies and overall stroke prognosis.

Abstract Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder causing progressive dementia. Research suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) could serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for AD. Reduced levels of miR‐137 have been observed in the brains of AD patients, but its specific role and downstream mechanisms remain unclear. This study sought to examine the therapeutic potential of miR‐137‐5p agomir in alleviating cognitive dysfunction induced in AD models and explore its potential mechanisms. Methods This study utilized bioinformatic analysis and a dual‐luciferase reporter assay to investigate the relationship between miR‐137‐5p and ubiquitin‐specific peptidase 30 (USP30). In vitro experiments were conducted using SH‐SY5Y cells to assess the impact of miR‐137‐5p on Aβ1–42 neurotoxicity. In vivo experiments on AD mice evaluated the effects of miR‐137‐5p on cognition, Aβ1–42 deposition, Tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuronal apoptosis, as well as its influence on USP30 levels. Results It was discovered that miR‐137‐5p mimics efficiently counteract Aβ1–42 neurotoxicity in SH‐SY5Y cells, a protective effect that is negated by USP30 overexpression. In vivo experiments demonstrated that miR‐137‐5p enhances the cognition and mobility of AD mice, significantly reducing Aβ1–42 deposition, Tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuronal apoptosis within the hippocampus and cortex regions. Mechanistically, miR‐137‐5p significantly suppresses USP30 levels in mice, though USP30 overexpression partially buffers against miR‐137‐5p‐induced AD symptom improvement. Conclusion Our study proposes that miR‐137‐5p, by instigating the downregulation of USP30, has the potential to act as a novel and promising therapeutic target for AD.

Abstract Background The accumulation of myofibroblasts is the key pathological feature of pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Aberrant differentiation of lung-resident mesenchymal stem cells (LR-MSCs) has been identified as a critical source of myofibroblasts, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain largely unknown. In recent years, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification has been implicated in fibrosis development across diverse organs; however, its specific role in promoting the differentiation of LR-MSCs into myofibroblasts in PF is not well defined. Methods In this study, we examined the levels of m6A RNA methylation and the expression of its regulatory enzymes in both TGF-β1-treated LR-MSCs and fibrotic mouse lung tissues. The downstream target genes of m6A and their related pathways were identified according to a literature review, bioinformatic analysis and experimental verification. We also assessed the expression levels of myofibroblast markers in treated LR-MSCs and confirmed the involvement of the above-described pathway in the aberrant differentiation direction of LR-MSCs under TGF-β1 stimulation by overexpressing or knocking down key genes within the pathway. Results Our results revealed that METTL3-mediated m6A RNA methylation was significantly upregulated in both TGF-β1-treated LR-MSCs and fibrotic mouse lung tissues. This process directly led to the aberrant differentiation of LR-MSCs into myofibroblasts by targeting the miR-21/PTEN pathway. Moreover, inhibition of METTL3 or miR-21 and overexpression of PTEN could rescue this abnormal differentiation. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that m6A RNA methylation induced aberrant LR-MSC differentiation into myofibroblasts via the METTL3/miR-21/PTEN signaling pathway. We indicated a novel mechanism to promote PF progression. Targeting METTL3-mediated m6A RNA methylation and its downstream targets may present innovative therapeutic approaches for the prevention and treatment of PF.

BackgroundAcute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) presents significant challenges in evaluating the effectiveness of Endovascular Treatment (EVT). This study develops a novel prognostic model to predict 6-month mortality post-EVT, aiding in identifying patients likely to benefit less from this intervention, thus enhancing therapeutic decision-making.MethodsWe employed a cohort of AIS patients from Shenyang First People’s Hospital, serving as the Validation set, to develop our model. LASSO regression was used for feature selection, followed by logistic regression to create a prognostic nomogram for predicting 6-month mortality post-EVT. The model’s performance was validated using a dataset from PLA Northern Theater Command General Hospital, assessing discriminative ability (C-index), calibration (calibration plot), and clinical utility (decision curve analysis). Statistical significance was set at p

The main coal producing areas in western China have the problems of dry climate and water shortage, and the mine water produced by coal mining generally has the characteristics of high salinity and high hardness. At present, the zero-discharge treatment of high-salinity mine water generally has the problems of complex process and high operating cost. In order to shorten the treatment process and improve the treatment efficiency, in this study, the vacuum membrane distillation technology was applied to replace the existing multi-stage reverse osmosis membrane concentration technology for the high-salinity mine water concentration and desalination treatment process. The high-salinity mine water after a lime-soda softening treatment was treated with different concentration ratios, and the membrane fouling mechanism and membrane cleaning method during the concentration process were studied. The results showed that with the increase of the concentration ratio, the membrane flux and desalination rate of the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber membrane gradually decreased, while the conductivity of the produced water increased slowly. When the concentration ratio was up to 27 times, the membrane flux was 8.87 L/(m2·h), the salt rejection rate was 99.7%, and the water conductance was 26.6 μS/cm. The membrane distillation process was inhibited by the membrane fouling caused by the scaling of calcium and magnesium ions in mine water, and the inorganic salt deposits could not be removed by physical methods such as backwashing and ultrasonic cleaning. After 96 hours of continuous operation, the PVDF membrane flux reduced from 12.85 L/(m2·h) to 5.21 L/(m2·h). The pretreatment process of hardness removal had obvious influence on the calcium and magnesium scaling in the membrane distillation process. When the hardness removal rate exceeded 95%, the desalting rate and membrane flux attenuation of PVDF membrane were obviously weakened. The membrane fouling caused by the calcium and magnesium precipitation could be effectively removed by the citric acid cleaning agent. Under the optimized conditions of citric acid concentration of 0.87 mol/L, the cleaning temperature of 38 ℃ and the cleaning time of 40 min, the membrane cleaning efficiency could reach 99.5%. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the microscopic morphology and structure of the original film, the contaminated film and the film after chemical cleaning. The results showed that the deposited pollutants on the surface of the cleaned film were significantly reduced, but the surface morphology and microscopic structure were irreversibly changed.

Abstract Background Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have been highlighted for the therapy of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), due to their capability of efficiently blocking signal pathway of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) which causes the inhibition and apoptosis of NSCLC cells. However, EGFR-TKIs have poor aqueous solubility and severe side effects arising from the difficulty in control of biodistribution. In this study, folate-functionalized nanoparticles (FA-NPs) are designed and fabricated to load EGFR-TKI through flash nanoprecipitation (FNP) strategy, which could enhance the tumor-targeting drug delivery and reduced drug accumulation and side effects to normal tissues. Results Herein, the EGFR-TKI loaded FA-NPs are constructed by FNP, with FA decorated dextran-b-polylactide as polymeric stabilizer and gefitinib as TKI. The fast mixing and co-precipitation in FNP provide FA-NPs with well-defined particle size, narrow size distribution and high drug loading content. The FA-NPs exhibit efficient uptake and cytotoxicity in HCC827 NSCLC cells, and reduced uptake and cytotoxicity in normal cells comparing with free gefitinib. In vivo evaluation of gefitinib-loaded FA-NPs confirms the selective drug delivery and accumulation, leading to enhanced inhibition on NSCLC tumor and simultaneously diminished side effects to normal tissues. Conclusion The facile design of FA-NPs by FNP and their achieved performance in vitro and in vivo evaluations offer new therapeutic opportunities for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Graphical Abstract

BackgroundThis study aimed to compare the performance of different machine learning models in predicting symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) after thrombolysis treatment for ischemic stroke.MethodsThis multicenter study utilized the Shenyang Stroke Emergency Map database, comprising 8,924 acute ischemic stroke patients from 29 comprehensive hospitals who underwent thrombolysis between January 2019 and December 2021. An independent testing cohort was further established, including 1,921 patients from the First People’s Hospital of Shenyang. The structured dataset encompassed 15 variables, including clinical and therapeutic metrics. The primary outcome was the sICH occurrence post-thrombolysis. Models were developed using an 80/20 split for training and internal validation. Performance was assessed using machine learning classifiers, including logistic regression with lasso regularization, support vector machine (SVM), random forest, gradient-boosted decision tree (GBDT), and multilayer perceptron (MLP). The model boasting the highest area under the curve (AUC) was specifically employed to highlight feature importance.ResultsBaseline characteristics were compared between the training cohort (n = 6,369) and the external validation cohort (n = 1,921), with the sICH incidence being slightly higher in the training cohort (1.6%) compared to the validation cohort (1.1%). Among the evaluated models, the logistic regression with lasso regularization achieved the highest AUC of 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79–0.95; p

Abstract Background The degeneration of retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells results in severe diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that causes blindness in millions of individuals. Results We report that targeting GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS) alleviates Alu RNA-induced immune responses and cytotoxicity in RPE. We find that the deletion of cGAS in RPE inhibits the Alu RNA-stimulated interferon production. cGAS deficiency also protects RPE from cell death triggered by Alu RNA. Importantly, two natural chemicals, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and resveratrol (RSVL), are effective in suppressing the immunogenic and cytotoxic effect of Alu RNA in RPE. Conclusions Our findings further demonstrate the crucial role of cGAS in the Alu RNA-induced RPE damage and present EGCG and RSVL as potential therapies for AMD and other RPE degeneration-related conditions.

IntroductionThis study aimed to investigate the effect of muscle-derived stem cell (MDSC) exosomes with overexpressed miR-214 on the regeneration and repair of rat sciatic nerve after crush injury and its molecular mechanism.MethodsFirst, primary MDSCs, Schwann cells (SCs) and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were isolated and cultured, and the characteristics of MDSCs-derived exosomes were identified by molecular biology and immunohistochemistry. NC mimics and miR-214 mimics were transfected to obtain exo-NC and exo-miR-214. An in vitro co-culture system was established to determine the effect of exo-miR-214 on nerve regeneration. The restoration of sciatic nerve function of rats by exo-miR-214 was evaluated by walking track analysis. Immunofluorescence for NF and S100 was used to detect the regeneration of axon and myelin sheath in injured nerve. The Starbase database was used to analyze the downstream target genes of miR-214. QRT-PCR and dual luciferase reporter assays were used to validate the miR-214 and PTEN interaction relationship. And the expression of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway-related proteins in sciatic nerve tissues were detected by western blot.ResultsThe above experiments showed that MDSCs-derived exosomes with overexpressed miR-214 was found to promote the proliferation and migration of SCs, increase the expression of neurotrophic factors, promote axon extension of DRG neurons and positively affect the recovery of nerve structure and function. In addition, PTEN was a target gene of miR-214. Exo-miR-214 can significantly inhibit the expression level of PTEN, increase the protein expression levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 and the ratio of p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3, also MDSCs-derived exosomes with overexpressed miR-214 can reduce the occurrence of denervated muscle atrophy.ConclusionIn summary, the MDSCs-derived exosomes with overexpressed miR-214 is involved in peripheral nerve regeneration and repair in rats after sciatic nerve crush injury to activate the JAK2/ STAT3 pathway by targeting PTEN.

Abstract Phase separation (PS) is a fundamental principle in diverse life processes including immunosurveillance. Despite numerous studies on PS, little is known about its dissolution. Here, it is shown that oleic acid (OA) dissolves the cyclic GMP–AMP synthase (cGAS)–deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) PS and inhibits immune surveillance of DNA. As solvent components control PS and metabolites are abundant cellular components, it is speculated that some metabolite(s) may dissolve PS. Metabolite‐screening reveals that the cGAS–DNA condensates formed via PS are markedly dissolved by long‐chain fatty acids, including OA. OA revokes intracellular cGAS–PS and DNA‐induced activation. OA attenuates cGAS‐mediated antiviral and anticancer immunosurveillance. These results link metabolism and immunity by dissolving PS, which may be targeted for therapeutic interventions.

Based on the numerical method, the effects of synthetic jet control (SJC) on the aerodynamic characteristics of iced airfoils are systematically analyzed for the first time. First, an analysis method for the airfoil flowfield under SJC in icing conditions is developed, which contains the CFD method, the icing prediction method, and the boundary conditions of the synthetic jet. Then, the variation in the aerodynamic characteristics of different iced airfoils under the SJC are analyzed, and the flow separation near the ice shape is discussed in detail. Finally, parameters, such as the jet position and angle, are quantified, and conclusions are obtained. The synthetic jet can reduce the separation area on the upper surface induced by the ice accretion. When the energy of the jet is sufficient, it interacts with the mainstream, reducing the separation vortex downstream of the jet orifice and greatly improving the aerodynamic characteristics of the iced airfoil. These results provide valuable insights for the application of synthetic jet technology in mitigating the adverse effects of ice accretion on the airfoil’s aerodynamic characteristics.

A novel nanoprobe based on S,O-doped carbon nitride quantum dots (S,O-CNQDs) was designed and synthesized. The as-prepared S,O-CNQDs exhibits good biocompatibility and strong fluorescence at excitation 360 nm. It is found that folic acid (FA) could efficiently quench the fluorescence of S,O-CNQDs. The obtained S,O-CNQDs is capable of acting as a sensitive and selective probe for FA detection in the range 5.0–83.3 μM with a detection limit of 90 nM. The as-prepared probe has been successfully utilized for the detection of FA in various real samples with satisfactory recoveries (98.8–107 %) and small relative standard deviation (

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to create a new delivery system that can synergistically remineralize enamel white spot lesions (WSLs).Materials and methods: The delivery system (PAA-ACP@aMBG) was prepared by using aminated mesoporous bioactive glasses (aMBG) as the carrier loaded with polyacrylic-stabilized amorphous calcium phosphate (PAA-ACP). The materials were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP–OES), and so on. Forty-eight artificial WSLs enamel samples were randomized to four groups: artificial saliva (negative control, NC), casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP), PAA-ACP@aMBG, and MBG. The effects of demineralization and remineralization of the enamel surface were compared by means of surface microhardness (SMH) measurements, surface color change measurements, fluorescence microscopy (FM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).Results: There was no significant difference in the surface microhardness recovery rate (SMHRR) or color recovery rate (CRR) among the CPP-ACP group, PAA-ACP@aMBG group and MBG group (P>0.05), but these values were significantly higher than those in the NC group (p < 0.01). FM demonstrated that the remineralization depth in the PAA-ACP@aMBG group was significantly greater than that of the remaining three groups (p < 0.01). SEM analysis indicated that the enamel demineralization marks in the PAA-ACP@aMBG group, CPP-ACP group, and MBG group were obscured by mineral deposition.Conclusions: PAA-ACP@aMBG showed good mineralization properties, implying its great potential for clinical application.

Objectives To explore challenges to nutrition intervention adherence using the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model among wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients. These factors should be considered in the development of potential support and intervention programmes to address these problems.Design A qualitative study was conducted with one-to-one and face-to-face interviews with wet AMD patients using a semi-structured question guide. Data were analysed based on COM-B model: capability (physical and psychological), opportunity (physical and social) and motivation (reflective and automatic).Setting Southwest Hospital of Chongqing Province in China.Participants A convenient and purposive sample of 24 wet AMD patients were recruited.Results The themes and subthemes were identified: psychological capability: (1) insufficient knowledge of nutrition; (2) misconceptions about the disease and treatment; (3) knowledge conflict; physical capability: (1) physical restriction; (2) limited access to nutrition knowledge; physical opportunity: (1) communication between providers and patients; (2) health insurance and extra charges; (3) food environment; social opportunity: (1) stigma of disease; (2) family influence; reflective motivation: (1) self-efficacy; (2) attitude; (3) outcome expectancies; (4) lack of professional support; automatic motivation: (1) difficulties in changing eating habits; (2) mindset.Conclusion Medical staff should pay much attention to the process of patients’ nutrition intervention. In addition, it is also necessary to develop professional and internet-based intervention to modify the dietary behaviour and improve the management skills of the patients.

Abstract Background Quercetin and H19 can promote osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). However, whether quercetin regulates H19 expression to promote osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs is unclear. Methods BMSC proliferation, matrix mineralization, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8, ALP assay kit, and alizarin red staining kit, respectively. Expression of H19, miR-625-5p, BMP-2, osteocalcin, and RUNX2 were measured by qRT-PCR; β-catenin protein level was measured by western blotting. Results Quercetin promoted BMSC proliferation, enhanced ALP activity, and upregulated the expression of BMP-2, osteocalcin, and RUNX2 mRNAs, suggesting that it promoted osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Moreover, quercetin increased H19 expression, while the effect of quercetin on BMSCs was reversed by silencing H19 expression. Additionally, miR-625-5p, interacted with H19, was downregulated during quercetin-induced BMSC osteogenic differentiation, which negatively correlated with H19 expression. Silencing miR-625-5p expression promoted BMSC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation, whereas miR-625-5p overexpression weakened the effect of quercetin on BMSCs. Finally, quercetin treatment or downregulation of miR-625-5p expression increased β-catenin protein level in BMSCs. Upregulation or downregulation of miR-625-5p or H19 expression, respectively, inhibited β-catenin protein level in quercetin treated-BMSCs. Conclusion H19 promotes, while miR-625-5p inhibits BMSC osteogenic differentiation. Quercetin activates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and promotes BMSC osteogenic differentiation via the H19/miR-625-5p axis.

Abstract Background Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers across the globe; the 5‐year survival of esophageal cancer patients is still low. MicroRNA (miRNA) dysregulation has been implicated in cancer development, and the miRNAs play a pivotal role in esophageal cancer pathogenesis. It is urgently needed to find out how miRNA dysregulation was involved in esophageal cancer (EC) development. Methods Through experiments in vivo and in vitro, we explored potential signaling pathways, miR‐493/Wnt5A/c‐JUN loop, in EC. Their mechanistic roles in EC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were investigated through multiple validation steps in EC9706 and TE13 cell lines and EC specimens. Results Overexpression of miR‐493 attenuates esophageal cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, miR‐493 downregulation is an unfavorable factor in EC and negatively correlated with Wnt5A. The existence of miR‐493 is also an important attribute of metabolism. Based on mechanism analyses, we show that miR‐493 inhibits the activity of c‐JUN and p‐PI3K/p‐AKT with enhanced p21 and directly regulates Wnt5A expression and function, whereas c‐JUN binds the promoter region of miR‐493 and suppressed the expression of miR‐493, forming a negative feedback loop. Conclusions The miR‐493/Wnt5A/c‐JUN loop is a molecular feedback loop that refers to the development of esophageal cancer cells and a potential target for the treatment of esophageal cancer.

Abstract To investigate the value of artificial intelligence (AI) assisted quantification on initial chest CT for prediction of disease progression and clinical outcome in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection and initially of non-severe type were retrospectively included. The initial CT scan on admission was used for imaging analysis. The presence of ground glass opacity (GGO), consolidation and other findings were visually evaluated. CT severity score was calculated according to the extent of lesion involvement. In addition, AI based quantification of GGO and consolidation volume were also performed. 123 patients (mean age: 64.43 ± 14.02; 62 males) were included. GGO + consolidation was more frequently revealed in progress-to-severe group whereas pure GGO was more likely to be found in non-severe group. Compared to non-severe group, patients in progress-to-severe group had larger GGO volume (167.33 ± 167.88 cm3 versus 101.12 ± 127 cm3, p = 0.013) as well as consolidation volume (40.85 ± 60.4 cm3 versus 6.63 ± 14.91 cm3, p

Abstract Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is currently the leading cause of irreversible visual impairment in developed countries and seriously affects the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients. However, the majority of the research in this area employs cross-sectional design; longitudinal research investigating changes in HRQoL and influencing factors is limited. The aim of this study was to use a longitudinal study design to investigate descriptive trends in HRQoL and their predictive factors in Chinese AMD patients receiving treatment with vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors (anti-VEGF) at baseline and follow-ups. Methods In a sample of 142 AMD patients from the outpatient clinic of the Southwest Eye Hospital, a tertiary major hospital in the southwest of China, each patient completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing demographics, clinical features, HRQoL, depression, anxiety, coping style, social support, and self-efficacy at baseline and at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up appointments. Results The total score of HRQoL fluctuated, with the highest score at the 6-month follow-up and the lowest score at baseline. Multivariable linear regression showed the predictors of HRQoL are best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), income level, depression, and visual acuity (VA) of the treated eye at baseline; BCVA, income, and depression at the 1-month follow-up; duration, area of residence, gender, VA of the treated eye, BCVA, income, anxiety, social support, self-efficacy, and depression at the 3-month follow-up; gender, BCVA, income, anxiety, social support, self-efficacy, depression, negative coping, and positive coping at the 6-month follow-up; and BCVA, social support, self-efficacy, and depression at the 12-month follow-up. Conclusions The HRQoL and its predictive factors in Chinese AMD patients receiving anti-VEGF treatment fluctuated over time. It is suggested that medical staff should get more information when planning precise care for improving patients’ HRQoL.

Abstract Background In recent years, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are of great importance in development of different types of tumors, while the function of lncRNA ZFAS1 is rarely discussed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Therefore, we performed this study to explore the expression of exosomal lncRNA ZFAS1 and its molecular mechanism on ESCC progression. Methods Expression of ZFAS1 and miR-124 in ESCC tissues was detected. LncRNA ZFAS1 was silenced to detect its function in the biological functions of ESCC cells. A stable donor and recipient culture model was established. Eca109 cells transfected with overexpressed and low expressed ZFAS1 plasmid and miR-124 inhibitor labeled by Cy3 were the donor cells, and then co-cultured with recipient cells to observe the transmission of Cy3-ZFAS1 between donor cells and recipient cells. The changes of cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration in recipient cells were detected. The in vivo experiment was conducted for verifying the in vitro results. Results LncRNA ZFAS1 was upregulated and miR-124 was down-regulated in ESCC tissues. Silencing of ZFAS1 contributed to suppressed proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor growth in vitro and induced apoptosis of ESCC cells. LncRNA ZFAS1 was considered to be a competing endogenous RNA to regulate miR-124, thereby elevating STAT3 expression. Exosomes shuttled ZFAS1 stimulated proliferation, migration and invasion of ESCC cells and restricted their apoptosis with increased STAT3 and declined miR-124. Furthermore, in vivo experiment suggested that elevated ZFAS1-exo promoted tumor growth in nude mice. Conclusion This study highlights that exosomal ZFAS1 promotes the proliferation, migration and invasion of ESCC cells and inhibits their apoptosis by upregulating STAT3 and downregulating miR-124, thereby resulting in the development of tumorigenesis of ESCC.

A spaceborne mounting method for fixing a 100 × 100 × 100 mm cubic Fabry–Pérot (FP) cavity is presented. The method constrains the FP cavity in eight directions with a titanium bracket, PEEK gaskets, and vacuum glue. Three criteria were proposed for judging whether the FP cavity is offset or not during aerospace vibration tests. Results indicate that the proposed method is a reliable, robust, and stable way to fix a cubic FP cavity in ultra-stable lasers (USLs). This approach paves the way for the use of USLs in space.

While heterogeneous catalysts can act as tangible, efficient materials for energy conversion, understanding the active catalytic sites is challenging. Here, authors engineer specific catalytic sites into molybdenum sulfide to improve and elucidate hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis.

Background/Aims: Disseminated tumors, known as metastases, are responsible for ninety-percent of mortality due to cancer. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition, a phenomenon required for morphological conversion of non-motile discoid shaped epithelial cells to highly motile spindle-shaped mesenchymal cells, is thought to be a pre-requisite for metastatic progression. Metastasis-associated 1 (MTA1) protein is a prime inducer of EMT and metastatic progression in all solid tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the expression and function of MTA1 in HCC have not been elucidated. Methods: In silico prediction algorithms were used to find microRNAs (miRNAs) that may target MTA1. We examined the relationship between the expression of MTA1 and miR-183 using quantitative real time PCR. We also determined the levels of the MTA1 protein using immunohistochemistry. Reporter assays, in the presence and absence of the miR-183 mimic, were used to confirm MTA1 as a bona fide target of miR183. The effect of miR-183 on HCC pathogenesis was determined using a combination of in vitro migration and invasion assay, together with in vivo xenograft experiments. The correlation between miR-183 and MTA1 expression was also studied in samples from HCC patients, and in The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset. Results: Analysis of the sequence database revealed that MTA1 is a putative target of miR-183. MTA1 protein and RNA expression showed opposite trends to miR-183 expression in breast, renal, prostate, and testicular tissue samples from cancer patients, and in the metastatic HCC cell line HepG2. An inverse correlation was also observed between MTA1 (high) and miR-183 (low) expression within samples from HHC patients and in the TCGA dataset. Reporter assays in HepG2 cells showed that miR-183 could inhibit translation of a reporter harboring the wild-type, but not the mutant miR-183 3’-untranslated region (UTR). In addition, miR-183 significantly inhibited in vitro migration and invasion in HepG2 cells, and in vivo hepatic metastasis. Conclusion: Our results reveal a novel post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism for MTA1 expression via miR-183, which is suppressed during HCC pathogenesis.

Introduction Shared decision making is endorsed by guidelines for both acute kidney injury and critical care medicine. However, there is still a huge need for effective interventions, especially those focusing on decisions about renal replacement therapy for intensive care unit (ICU) patients with acute kidney injury. The decision aids provide evidence-based support for shared decision making, to achieve better decisions through enhanced knowledge of treatment options and treatment aligns with patients’ preferences and values. Therefore, our objectives are to develop and evaluate a decision aid systematically and rigorously for family surrogate decision makers of ICU patients with acute kidney injury who need renal replacement therapy.Methods and analysis We will use a systematic development process that focuses on user-centred design to develop and evaluate the decision aid in three phases: (1) development of a draft prototype for the decision aid based on extensive literature reviews, interviews with key stakeholders and evidence synthesis; (2) alpha testing (‘near live’ usability) the decision aid during simulated clinical encounters to test its comprehensibility, acceptability and usability and (3) beta testing (‘live’ usability) to examine the aid’s clinical feasibility. User testing will be conducted using mixed-methods approach to support iterative revision of the decision aid. The IPDASi (V.4.0) will be used for following qualitative assessment. All interviews will be analysed by Colaizzi’s seven-step approach to qualitative analysis. The coding scheme will use to analyse user interactions. Questionnaire surveys will be analysed using paired sample t-tests when related to the before-and-after survey, otherwise using one-sample t-test.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval for this research was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, PLA (Ref: KY2020104). All participants will sign a formal informed consent form. The findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and reported in appropriate meetings.Trial registration number ChiCTR2000031613.

Bacillus velezensis is a kind of beneficial bacteria that is widely used in agriculture industry. Bacillus velezensis was irradiated with corona discharge generated by a needle-array high-voltage electrode. The results showed an improvement of activity of Bacillus velezensis by the corona discharge treatment was confirmed at an optimum input energy. Mutation of the Bacillus velezensis by the corona discharge treatment was also confirmed through an rRNA sequence alignment analysis. The enzyme activity of the mutated bacteria was greatly improved, which was a positive effect that can meet the production demand.

Collegiate football athletes are subject to repeated head impacts. The purpose of this study was to determine whether this exposure can lead to changes in brain structure. This prospective cohort study was conducted with up to 4 years of follow-up on 63 football (high-impact) and 34 volleyball (control) male collegiate athletes with a total of 315 MRI scans (after exclusions: football n ​= ​50, volleyball n ​= ​24, total scans ​= ​273) using high-resolution structural imaging. Volumetric and cortical thickness estimates were derived using FreeSurfer 5.3’s longitudinal pipeline. A linear mixed-effects model assessed the effect of group (football vs. volleyball), time from baseline MRI, and the interaction between group and time. We confirmed an expected developmental decrement in cortical thickness and volume in our cohort (p ​

This research aims at analysing the mechanical performance of concrete with recycled aggregates from concrete pavements. First, the characteristics of various natural and recycled aggregates used in the concrete were thoroughly analysed. The composition of the recycled aggregates was determined and several physical and chemical tests of the aggregates were performed. In order to evaluate the mechanical performance of recycled concrete, cube compressive strength and flexural tensile strength tests were performed. The effect of recycled aggregates on the strength of recycled concrete is related to the strength of recycled aggregates, the strength of natural aggregates, and the strength of old concrete. The strength of recycled concrete decreases with increasing water-cement ratio. However, due to the water absorption of the recycled aggregate, it has a certain inhibitory effect on the strength reduction. As the replacement rate of recycled aggregates increases, the optimal sand ratio decreases. The sand ratio is controlled between 32% and 38%, which is ideal for recycled concrete. With the increase of fly ash content, the 7 d strength of recycled concrete has decreased to some extent, but the 28 d strength has been slightly improved. In addition, for compressive strength and flexural tensile strength, the optimal content of fly ash is different.

Allopregnanolone (APα), as a functional neurosteroid, exhibits the neuroprotective effect on neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) through γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor (GABAAR), but it has not been completely understood about its molecular mechanisms. In order to investigate the neuroprotective effect of APα, as well as to clarify its possible molecular mechanisms, SH-SY5Y neuronal cell lines were incubated with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), which has been widely used as an in vitro model for PD, along with APα alone or in combination with GABAAR antagonist (bicuculline, Bic), intracellular Ca2+ chelator (EGTA) and voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channel blocker (Nifedipine). The viability, proliferation, and differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells, the expression levels of calmodulin (CaM), Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II δ3 (CaMKIIδ3), cyclin-dependent kinase-1 (CDK1) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as well as the interaction between CaMKIIδ3 and CDK1 or BDNF, were detected by morphological and molecular biological methodology. Our results found that the cell viability and the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and TH/BrdU-positive cells in 6-OHDA-treated SH-SY5Y cells were significantly decreased with the concomitant reduction in the expression levels of aforementioned proteins, which were ameliorated following APα administration. In addition, Bic could further increase the number of TH or BrdU-positive cells as well as the expression levels of aforementioned proteins except for TH/BrdU-double positive cells, while EGTA and Nifedipine could attenuate the expression levels of CaM, CaMKIIδ3 and BDNF. Moreover, there existed a direct interaction between CaMKIIδ3 and CDK1 or BDNF. As a result, APα-induced an increase in the number of TH-positive SH-SY5Y cells might be mediated through GABAAR via Ca2+/CaM/CaMKIIδ3/BDNF (CDK1) signaling pathway, which would ultimately facilitate to elucidate PD pathogenesis and hold a promise as an alternative therapeutic target for PD.

Abstract Background When the minority college students from the ethnic minority communities come to study in Chinese Han region, they encounter adapting difficulties of culture and socio-psychology, in which empathy plays a crucial role. Current instruments used to measure empathy have many limited effectiveness. The empathy quotient (EQ) scale which has been validated in many countries was explicitly designed for clinical applications and was intended to be sensitive to a lack of empathy. This study is to develop a complete Chinese version of the EQ scale and to assess its reliability and validity among Chinese minority college students in the Han Chinese region. Methods A total of 1638 Chinese minority college students in the Han region were selected and were randomly divided into two groups. One group of 818 students took part in the implementation of the exploratory factor analysis while the other group of 820 students participated in the confirmatory factor analysis. Results Twenty-nine items of the EQ were retained based on the factor analysis and four factors were extracted: self-awareness, cognitive empathy, social skills, and emotional reactivity, which can explain 51.793% of the total variance. The factors of the EQ scale were significantly correlated with each other, with the correlation coefficient ranging from 0.316 to 0.563. The coefficient of internal consistency (Cronbach’s α) was 0.824 for the total scale and ranged from 0.640 to 0.818 for the subscales. Confirmatory factor analysis proved that the measured data fitted well with the hypothesized four-factor model. All of the items in the scale fitted the model well, and the point-measure correlation coefficient had acceptable consistency. Conclusions The refined 29-item Chinese version of the EQ possesses good reliability and validity, and can be applied in assessing empathy among Chinese minority college students.

Abstract Background Substantial challenges have been reported in China in terms of the large number of adult patients with strabismus and their poor quality of life. Quality of life is a cultural concept that varies according to personal feelings and perceptions, and it is influenced by physical, psychological and social factors. However, to date, there has been no mixed-method research of the quality of life of Chinese adult patients with strabismus, and no conceptual model has been reported. This study aimed to utilize mixed methods to explore the influence of strabismus on health-related quality of life in Chinese adult patients and to develop a conceptual model. Methods Thirty adult patients with strabismus from three tertiary hospitals in China participated in the interview. In-depth one-to-one interviews were semi-structured and addressed strabismus-related symptoms and the impacts on the participants’ quality of life. Transcripts were analysed to identify themes. A self-designed questionnaire was distributed to 448 patients, 437 of whom returned valid questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and x 2 test were conducted. Results Five themes were revealed regarding the impact of strabismus on patient quality of life: appearance, daily activities, personal development, social interaction, and emotions. In the survey, the top three symptoms (n ≥ 70%) rated by the participants were monocular vision, eye fatigue and physical discomfort. Compared to those without diplopia, the patients who suffered diplopia more often reported experiencing the symptoms of blurred vision, monocular vision, physical discomfort, eye fatigue, cannot estimate depth well and increasing deviation size (all p

To guarantee a smooth in-orbit space gravitational wave detection for the Taiji mission, a semi-physical simulation test of inter-satellite laser interference is carried out. The semi-physical simulation test consists of three aspects: the establishment of the inter-satellite laser link, interferometry of the inter-satellite ranging, and simulation of the space environment. With the designed specifications for the semi-physical simulation platform, the test results for the inter-satellite laser interference can be obtained. Based on the semi-physical simulation test, the risks of inter-satellite laser interference technology can be mitigated, laying a solid foundation for the successful detection of in-orbit gravitational waves.

In this study, we aimed to explore the association of genetic polymorphism in matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and the susceptibility to combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE). We examined the polymorphisms of the MMP-9 C-1562T and TGF-β1 T869C in 38 CPFE patients, 50 pulmonary emphysema patients, and 34 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients. The frequencies of polymorphic genotypes in MMP-9 were 78.95% CC and 21.05% CT in CPFE group, 76.0% CC and 24.0% CT in emphysema group, and 100.0% CC in IPF group. There were highly statistically significant increased frequencies of the CT genotype and T allele in CPFE and emphysema groups compared with IPF group (p < 0.05). The frequencies of polymorphic genotypes in TGF-β1 were 2.63% CC, 28.95% CT, 68.42% TT in CPFE group, 4.00% CC, 16.00% CT, 80.00% TT in emphysema group, and 5.88% CC, 41.18% CT, 52.94% TT in IPF group. Significant increases in the TT genotype and T allele frequencies were observed in emphysema group compared with IPF group (p < 0.05). Our study has showed that T allele in MMP-9 (C-1562T) and T allele in TGF-β1 (T869C) are risk factors of pulmonary emphysema. The T allele in MMP-9 (C-1562T) possibly predisposes patients with pulmonary fibrosis to develop emphysema.

PurposeTo develop a 7T simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) 2D gradient-echo sequence for susceptibility contrast imaging, and to compare its quality to 3D imaging.MethodsA frequency modulated and phase cycled RF pulse was designed to simultaneously excite multiple slices in multi-echo 2D gradient-echo imaging. The imaging parameters were chosen to generate images with susceptibility contrast, including T2*-weighted magnitude/phase images, susceptibility-weighted images and quantitative susceptibility/R2* maps. To compare their image quality with 3D gradient-echo imaging, both 2D and 3D imaging were performed on 11 healthy volunteers and 4 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The signal to noise ratio (SNR) in gray and white matter and their contrast to noise ratio (CNR) was simulated for the 2D and 3D magnitude images using parameters from the imaging. The experimental SNRs and CNRs were measured in gray/white matter and deep gray matter structures on magnitude, phase, R2* and QSM images from volunteers and the visibility of MS lesions on these images from patients was visually rated. All SNRs and CNRs were compared between the 2D and 3D imaging using a paired t-test.ResultsAlthough the 3D magnitude images still had significantly higher SNRs (by 13.0~17.6%), the 2D magnitude and QSM images generated significantly higher gray/white matter or globus pallidus/putamen contrast (by 13.3~87.5%) and significantly higher MS lesion contrast (by 5.9~17.3%).Conclusion2D SMS gradient-echo imaging can serve as an alternative to often used 3D imaging to obtain susceptibility-contrast-weighted images, with an advantage of providing better image contrast and MS lesion sensitivity.

Membrane distillation (MD) is a promising technology to treat mine water. This work aims to investigate the change in mass and heat transfer in reverse osmosis mine water treatment by vacuum membrane distillation (VMD). A 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was carried out using COMSOL Multiphysics and verified by the experimental results. Then, response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to explore the effects of various parameters on the permeate flux and heat transfer efficiency. In terms of the influence degree on the permeation flux, the vacuum pressure > feed temperature > membrane length > feed temperature membrane length, and the membrane length has a negative correlation with the membrane flux. Increasing the feed temperature can also increase the convective heat transfer at the feed side, which will affect the heat transfer efficiency. Furthermore, the feed temperature also has a critical effect on the temperature polarization phenomenon. The temperature polarization becomes more notable at high temperatures.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Purpose: To evaluate spectral acquisition processes important for obtaining reliable and reproducible γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signals from volunteers in brain regions that are frequently used for neuroimaging studies [anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), superior temporal gyrus, and caudate] at ultra-high field.Methods: Ten healthy volunteers were studied using a single-voxel Point-RESolved Spectrosocpy (PRESS) sequence with band selective inversion with gradient dephasing pulses (BASING). The editing pulse was designed to be symmetrically placed at 2.0 and 1.4 ppm in the two cycles to reduce the co-editing of macro-molecules (MM). Spectral data were obtained with phase encoding matrix 8 × 8 × 1 and two editing cycles or 1 × 1 × 1 and 64 editing/64 non-editing. The total acquisition time was approximately 4.5 min for each acquisition. An automated MRS prescription method was utilized for the placement of the GABA scan location in 5/10 subjects. Three regions of interest were predefined in the MNI152 space and then registered and transformed to subject space. These volunteers also had repeat scans to examine between-session reproducibility.Results: The placement of editing pulses symmetrically at 1.7 ppm reduced the effect of MM contributions and provided more accurate GABA estimation. Chemical shift misregistration errors caused by classic PRESS localization sequence are more significant at ultra-high field strength. Therefore, a large over-excitation factor was needed to reduce this error. Furthermore, the inefficiency of saturation bands and unspoiled coherence could also interfere with the quality of the data. Reliable recovery of metabolite signals resulted from the implementation of 8 × 8 × 1 phase encoding that successfully removed artifacts and errors, without compromising the total acquisition time. Between successive scans on the same subject, dice overlap ratios of the excited spectral volume between the two scans were in the range of 92–95%. Within subject variability of metabolites between two repeat scans was smaller in the ACC and left superior temporal gyrus when compared to that in the right caudate, with averaged coefficients of variation being 3.6, 6.0, and 16.9%, respectively.Conclusion: This study demonstrated the feasibility of obtaining reliable and reproducible GABA measurements at ultra-high field.

Objectives: To translate the Child Intermittent Exotropia Questionnaire (Child-IXTQ) from English to Chinese and to evaluate its reliability and validity in Chinese childhood strabismus patients. Method: A consecutive sample of 143 child strabismus patients was recruited from the Department of Ophthalmology at a medical center in Southwest China. In addition, 100 visually normal adults and 100 patients with other eye diseases were recruited. The Brislin translation model was followed to develop the Chinese version of Child-IXTQ. Reliability was established using Cronbach's α and test-retest. Validity was established encompassing content validity, construct validity, convergent validity, criterion-related validity and discriminative validity. Results: The correlation coefficients between each item score with the total score ranged from 0.370 to 0.813. Two subscales were extracted by principal component analysis, with a content validity of 0.91. The correlation coefficients between two factor scores with the total score were 0.709 and 0.939. Criterion-related validity was estimated by the correlating the Child-IXTQ with the PedsQL 4.0, and the correlation coefficient was 0.522. In addition, the Child-IXTQ discriminated accurately between strabismus patients and normal children, or children with other eye diseases that possessed good discriminative validity. Cronbach's α coefficient for the internal consistency was 0.907 and the test-retest reliability was 0.962. Conclusions: Our study indicates that the Child-IXTQ is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the health-related quality of life among children with strabismus.

AIM:To assess the disinfection methods of diagnostic contact lens and their efficacy in ophthalmology in China.METHODS: Ten Chinese hospitals were surveyed and indicated three commonly used disinfectants 0.05% sodium dichloroisocyanurate(NaDCC), 75% EtOH, or chloramphenicol eye drops(Minims^{®: 0.5%). Lenses were infected with staphylococcus aureus, staphylococcus epidermidis, or pseudomonas aeruginosa, and then disinfected by; 1)wiping; 2)immersing in disinfectant for 5min; 3)immersing in disinfectant for 10min; n=9. Swab wipes from the lenses were cultured for 24h and colony-forming units were counted to assess bacterial load. Lens clarity was subjectively scored for each method.RESULTS: The bacterial load was 1×108/mL ×50μL/lense equals 5×106/lense. Of the three methods the use of 75% EtOH and NaDCC are significantly more effective when used for wiping compared to eye drops(P≤0.01). Wiping with NaDCC or EtOH significantly reduced bacterial load but results were variable and the threat of cross-infection is still present. They were effective if used for 10min, but EtOH adversely affected lens clarity in contrast to NaDCC which had no adverse affects on the lens. Chloramphenicol eye drops were ineffective.CONCLUSION: NaDCC immersion for 10min or longer appears to be a simple and effective way to disinfect diagnostic contact lenses during ophthalmic examination.}

Background: High peritoneal transport status was previously thought to be a poor prognostic factor in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. However, its effect on diabetic nephropathy PD patients is unclear in consideration of the adverse impact of diabetes itself. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of peritoneal transport characteristics on nutritional status and clinical outcome in diabetic nephropathy patients on PD. Methods: One hundred and two diabetic nephropathy patients on PD were enrolled in this observational cohort study. According to the initial peritoneal equilibration test result, patients were divided into two groups: Higher transport group (HT, including high and high average transport) and lower transport group (LT, including low and low-average transport). Demographic characteristics, biochemical data, dialysis adequacy, and nutritional status were evaluated. Clinical outcomes were compared. Risk factors for death-censored technique failure and mortality were analyzed. Results: Compared with LT group (n = 37), serum albumin was significantly lower and the incidence of malnutrition by subjective global assessment was significantly higher in HT group (n = 65) (P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier analyses showed that death-censored technique failure and mortality were significantly increased in HT group compared with that in LT group. On multivariate Cox analyses, higher peritoneal transport status and lower residual renal function (RRF) were independent predictors of death-censored technique failure when adjusted for serum albumin and total weekly urea clearance (Kt/V). Independent predictors of mortality were advanced age, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and lower RRF, but not higher peritoneal transport status. Conclusions: Higher peritoneal transport status has an adverse influence on nutrition for diabetic nephropathy patients on PD. Higher peritoneal transport status is a significant independent risk factor for death-censored technique failure, but not for mortality in diabetic nephropathy patients on PD.

Posture segmentation plays an essential role in human motion analysis. The state-of-the-art method extracts sufficiently high-dimensional features from 3D depth images for each 3D point and learns an efficient body part classifier. However, high-dimensional features are memory-consuming and difficult to handle on large-scale training dataset. In this paper, we propose an efficient two-stage dimension reduction scheme, termed biview learning, to encode two independent views which are depth-difference features (DDF) and relative position features (RPF). Biview learning explores the complementary property of DDF and RPF, and uses two stages to learn a compact yet comprehensive low-dimensional feature space for posture segmentation. In the first stage, discriminative locality alignment (DLA) is applied to the high-dimensional DDF to learn a discriminative low-dimensional representation. In the second stage, canonical correlation analysis (CCA) is used to explore the complementary property of RPF and the dimensionality reduced DDF. Finally, we train a support vector machine (SVM) over the output of CCA. We carefully validate the effectiveness of DLA and CCA utilized in the two-stage scheme on our 3D human points cloud dataset. Experimental results show that the proposed biview learning scheme significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art method for human posture segmentation.