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Objective To explore the therapeutic mechanism of cordycepin for acute kidney injury （AKI） based upon gene chips in gene expression omnibus （GEO） database, network pharmacology, molecular docking and in vitro experiments. Methods Targeted genes of AKI were obtained from two databases, GEO （GSE87025） and GeneCards. Cordycepin-related targets were retrieved from three databases of TargetNet, BATMAN and GeneCards. The common targets of AKI and cordycepin were screened by taking the intersection of two sets. Molecular docking was performed for cordycepin and key targets after gene ontology （GO） annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis. Cell experiments were performed for control, hypoxia/reoxygenation and hypoxia/reoxygenation+cordycepin groups for experimental verifications of the relevant targets. Results There were 12 common targets of AKI and cordycepin. GO functional annotation results indicated that these targets participated predominantly in negative regulation of apoptotic signaling pathway and necroptosis process. KEGG enrichment analysis results showed that they played some roles in signaling pathways of Toll-like receptor, necroptosis, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain （NOD）-like receptor, nuclear factor-κB （NF-kB）, tumor necrosis factor （TNF） and cell apoptosis, etc. Optimal binding energy between cordycepin and receptor interacting protein kinase 1 （RIPK1） in molecular docking was -7.1, denoting potent binding activity. Western blot indicated that cordycepin down-regulated the expressions of RIPK1, bcl-2 associated x protein （Bax） and caspase 3 and up-regulated B cell lymphoma/lewkmia-2（Bcl-2）. Cell immunofluorescence results revealed that cordycepin down-regulated the expression of RIPK1. Conclusion Cordycepin may alleviate hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced renal tubular epithelial cell injury through regulating RIPK1-mediated apoptosis. Thus it achieves the therapeutic efficacy for AKI.

BackgroundsAtrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication of chronic heart failure (HF). Serum phenylalanine (Phe) levels are related to inflammation disorder. It is meaningful to study the circulating Phe with AF occurrence in HF.MethodsThe cross-sectional study recruited 300 patients (78.0% male; mean age, 65 ± 13 years) with HF (left ventricular ejection fraction of ≤50%, containing 70 AF patients) and 100 normal controls. Serum Phe value was measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to measure the association between Phe and AF risk in HF. The association between Phe and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was assessed by simple correlation analysis. In the prospective study, the 274 HF subjects (76.6% male; mean age, 65 ± 13 years) were followed up for a mean year (10.99 ± 3.00 months).ResultsSerum Phe levels increased across the control, the HF without AF, and the HF with AF groups (77.60 ± 8.67 umol/L vs. 95.24 ± 28.58 umol/L vs. 102.90 ± 30.43 umol/L, ANOVA P

Piezoelectric energy harvesting of mechanical waves exhibits great potential applications in electricity generation for low-powered electronic devices. In this work, the metasurface-assisted phononic cavity is proposed for the enhancement of piezoelectric energy harvesting of elastic flexural waves. By employing the two-dimensional plate-type metamaterial, we construct a phononic cavity that possesses the ability to localize and amplify the flexural waves. On the other hand, for the purpose of flexural wave focusing, a sparse metasurface is inversely designed based on the interference theory through the particle swarm optimization algorithm. For collaborative wave manipulation, the sparse metasurface is set in front of the phononic cavity. Additionally, piezoelectric patches are attached within the phononic cavities. The wave characteristics of the metasurface-assisted phononic cavity are studied by using the finite element method. For comparison, a conventional phononic cavity (i.e., cavity without metasurface) and a reference bare plate are also considered. Due to the wavefront control ability of the metasurface, more flexural waves are guided into the phononic cavity region. Thus, compared with the reference plate, the power amplification ratios of the metasurface-assisted cavity and the conventional cavity are 102 and 7, respectively. The electrical outputs of the phononic cavity are remarkably boosted by the assistance of the sparse metasurface.

Abstract Background Small bowel obstruction can occur during pregnancy, which, if missed, can lead to dire consequences for both the mother and foetus. Management of this condition usually requires surgical intervention. However, only a small number of patients are treated conservatively. Objective The objective was to review the literature to determine the feasibility of conservative management for small bowel obstruction. Methods A systematic search of the PubMed and Embase databases was performed using the keywords [small bowel obstruction AND pregnancy]. All original articles were then reviewed and included in this review if deemed suitable. Conclusion Conservative management of small bowel obstruction in pregnant women is feasible if the patient is clinically stable and after ruling out bowel ischaemia and closed-loop obstruction.

Abstract Background Stroke, which is the main element of cerebrovascular disease (CVD), has become the foremost reason for death and disability on a global scale. The systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), a newly developed and comprehensive indicator, has demonstrated promise in forecasting clinical results for diverse ailments. Nevertheless, the uncertainty surrounding the assessment and prediction of clinical outcomes for stroke patients by SIRI persists, and the conflicting findings from the limited studies conducted on this matter further complicate the situation. Consequently, we performed a thorough systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the correlation between SIRI and the clinical results in individuals suffering from stroke. Methods This research was registered in PROSPERO and carried out following the PRISMA guidelines. A thorough investigation was carried out on PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Furthermore, we conducted a manual search in Chinese databases, such as China national Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang, VIP, and China Biology Medicine (CBM). We assessed the potential for bias in the studies included by utilizing the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) tool. Adverse clinical outcomes were the main focus of the study, with secondary endpoints including mortality, the predictive value of SIRI, SIRI values across various endpoints, and clinical parameters associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in relation to low and high SIRI group. Results Following rigorous evaluation, a grand total of 22 investigations, encompassing a populace of 12,737 individuals, were considered suitable for incorporation in the final analysis. The findings from our meta-analysis indicate a strong and consistent correlation between elevated SIRI levels and adverse functional outcomes, irrespective of the method used to evaluate unfavorable outcomes. Furthermore, increased SIRI values have a strong correlation with mortality rates in both the short and long term. Besides, SIRI is a useful indicator of the severity of SAH. SIRI demonstrates strong predictive ability in identifying unfavorable outcomes and stroke-related pneumonia (SAP), as higher SIRI values are typically linked to negative endpoints. Nevertheless, the meta-analysis indicated that there was no significant increase in the risk of early neurological deterioration (END) and acute hydrocephalus (AHC) in high SIRI group when comparing to low SIRI. Conclusion This study could potentially pave the way for groundbreaking insights into the relationship between SIRI and stroke patient outcomes, as it appears to be the first meta-analysis to explore this association. Given the critical role of the inflammatory response in stroke recovery, closely monitoring patients with high SIRI levels could represent a promising strategy for mitigating brain damage post-stroke. Thus, further investigation into SIRI and its impact on clinical outcomes is essential. While our initial findings offer valuable insights into this area, continued research is necessary to fully elucidate the potential of SIRI, ideally through dynamic monitoring and large-scale, multi-center studies. Ultimately, this research has the potential to inform clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes following stroke. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ ; Identifier CRD42023405221.

ObjectiveTo analyze the HIV infection characteristics and influencing factors among the spouses of HIV/AIDS patients in Shanghai.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect demographic， behavioral， epidemiological and spousal HIV detection information of newly reported and married patients with HIV/AIDS in Shanghai from January 2018 to July 2022 in the comprehensive HIV prevention and control information system of Chinese Center for Disease Prevention and Control. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the HIV positivity rate of the spouses of HIV patients and the influencing factors were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression models.ResultsA total of 1 233 subjects were investigated， and the first HIV-testing positivity rate of the spouses of HIV/AIDS patients was 29.3% （361/1 233）. There were statistically significant differences in the HIV-testing positivity rate among spouses of HIV/AIDS patients by different age， gender， education level， occupation， transmission route， quantity of non-marital sexual activities， quantity of homo-sexual activities， and baseline CD4 cell count level （P

Zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs) caused major human outbreaks in the last two decades. One of the biggest challenges during future CoV disease is ensuring rapid detection and diagnosis at the early phase of a zoonotic event, and active surveillance to the zoonotic high-risk CoVs appears the best way at the present time to provide early warnings. However, there is neither an evaluation of spillover potential nor diagnosis tools for the majority of CoVs. Here, we analyzed the viral traits, including population, genetic diversity, receptor and host species for all 40 alpha- and beta-CoV species, where the human-infecting CoVs are from. Our analysis proposed 20 high-risk CoV species, including 6 of which jumped to human, 3 with evidence of spillover but not to human and 11 without evidence of spillover yet, which prediction were further supported by an analysis of the history of CoV zoonosis. We also found three major zoonotic sources: multiple bat-origin CoV species, the rodent-origin sub-genus Embecovirus and the CoV species AlphaCoV1. Moreover, the Rhinolophidae and Hipposideridae bats harbour a significantly higher proportion of human-threatening CoV species, whereas camel, civet, swine and pangolin could be important intermediate hosts during CoV zoonotic transmission. Finally, we established quick and sensitive serologic tools for a list of proposed high-risk CoVs and validated the methods in serum cross-reaction assays using hyper-immune rabbit sera or clinical samples. By comprehensive risk assessment of the potential human-infecting CoVs, our work provides a theoretical or practical basis for future CoV disease preparedness.

BackgroundStroke represents a prominent global health issue, exhibiting the third highest incidence of disability and a significant burden on both healthcare and the economy. Stress hyperglycemia, an acute reaction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system, leading to adverse outcomes and mortality. Several previous studies have indicated that stress hyperglycemia, as evaluated by the stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR), significantly increases the risk of adverse outcomes and mortality in stroke patients. However, there is a lack of further investigation into the influence of dynamic changes in stress hyperglycemia on the clinical outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. Consequently, we performed a meticulous analysis, considering dose-response relationships from existing studies, to ascertain the correlation between dynamic changes in stress hyperglycemia and the susceptibility to adverse outcomes in patients with AIS.MethodsThis investigation was prospectively registered in PROSPERO and adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed across English and Chinese databases. A two-sided random-effects model was employed to consolidate the odds ratios (ORs) of the highest vs. lowest categories of SHR. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were employed to estimate potential non-linear trends between SHR and the risk of adverse outcomes in AIS patients. Egger's test was utilized to assess publication bias. Heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochran's Q-test. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) tool was employed to evaluate the risk of bias of the included studies.ResultsThe final analysis incorporated a total of thirteen studies, which were published between 2019 and 2023, encompassing a participant cohort of 184,179 individuals. The SHR exhibited a significant association with the risk of various adverse outcomes. Specifically, a higher SHR was correlated with a 2.64-fold increased risk of 3-month poor functional outcomes (OR: 2.64, 95% CI 2.05–3.41, I2 = 52.3%, P < 0.001), a 3.11-fold increased risk of 3-month mortality (OR: 3.11, 95% CI 2.10–4.59, I2 = 38.6%, P < 0.001), a 2.80-fold increased risk of 1-year mortality (OR: 2.80, 95% CI 1.81–4.31, I2 = 88%, P < 0.001), a 3.90-fold increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and 4.57-fold increased risk of symptomatic ICH (sICH) (ICH-OR: 3.90, 95% CI 1.52–10.02, I2 = 84.3%, P = 0.005; sICH-OR: 4.57, 95% CI 2.05–10.10, I2 = 47.3%, P < 0.001), a 1.73-fold increased risk of neurological deficits (OR: 1.73, 95 CI 1.44–2.08, I2 = 0%, P < 0.001), and a 2.84-fold increased risk of stroke recurrence (OR: 2.84, 95 CI 1.48–5.45, I2 = 50.3%, P = 0.002). It is noteworthy that, except for hemorrhagic transformation (HT) and stroke recurrence, the remaining adverse outcomes exhibited a “J-shaped” non-linear dose-response relationship.ConclusionIn summary, our findings collectively suggest that increased exposure to elevated SHR is robustly linked to a heightened risk of adverse outcomes and mortality in individuals with AIS, exhibiting a non-linear dose-response relationship. These results underscore the significance of SHR as a predictive factor for stroke prognosis. Therefore, further investigations are warranted to explore the role of SHR in relation to adverse outcomes in stroke patients from diverse ethnic populations. Furthermore, there is a need to explore the potential benefits of stress hyperglycemia control in alleviating the physical health burdens associated with AIS. Maintaining a lower SHR level may potentially reduce the risk of adverse stroke outcomes.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42023424852.

The phenomenon of steel corrosion is becoming more and more common.Phosphating is commonly used in industry as a method to prevent steel corrosion，but it causes serious environmental pollution.In order to reduce phosphorus pollution，an environmentally friendly steel passivation process based on phytic acid solution was developed aiming at the base material of Q235 steel，and the corrosion resistance of the environment-friendly steel passivation film was tested by copper sulfate drop test and electrochemical method.Additionally，the composition and microscopic morphology of the passivation film were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM).Results showed that the average time of copper sulfate drop after passivation reached 107 s，and the corrosion current was only 4.3×10-3mA.Furthermore，the impedance diameter and modulus of the passivated film treated by such environmentally friendly process was large，and its corrosion resistance was higher.Meanwhile，the environment-friendly passivation film was found to be complete without any cracks when it was observed by scanning electron microscope，indicating a good corrosion resistance.Finally，the film-forming mechanism of the environment-friendly passivation film was briefly analyzed.

Abstract Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM) is an uncommon lymphoproliferative disorder, and the precise cellular landscape and the mechanisms of progression from IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) to WM remain unclear. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of CD19 + and CD19-CD38 + cells from healthy donors, IgM MGUS and WM patients. We found that samples from IgM MGUS and WM patients were composed of fewer early B-cell subsets and more T cells and NK cells than those from healthy controls. Compared with those of IgM MGUS patients, mature B cells of WM patients showed upregulation of HES1, GADD45B, NEAT1, DUSP22, RGS1, RGS16, and PIM1. We also identified a subpopulation of CD3 + CD19 + cells in IgM MGUS and WM patients, and trajectory analysis suggested that this subpopulation might be a stem cell-like subset. Further targeted gene sequencing of CD3 + CD19 + and CD3-CD19 + cells proved that MYD88 might be the early events in tumorigenesis according to variant allele fraction analysis. Additional subclonal hits such as CXCR4 and MAP2K1 mutations could be acquired during tumor progression. CXCL signaling, CCL signaling, IL2 signaling and TGFβ signaling pathways were involved in communication between CD3 + CD19 + cells and other immune cells. Our findings reveal the composition of CD38 + immune microenvironment together with B cells and plasma cells in IgM MGUS and WM patients, and provide comprehensive insights into mechanisms of progression from IgM MGUS to WM. The rare CD3 + CD19 + cells might be cells with “stemness” feature.