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Abstract The concept of Yin-Yang, originating in ancient Chinese philosophy, symbolizes two opposing but complementary forces or principles found in all aspects of life. This concept can be quite fitting in the context of extracellular vehicles (EVs) and inflammatory diseases. Over the past decades, numerous studies have revealed that EVs can exhibit dual sides, acting as both pro- and anti-inflammatory agents, akin to the concept of Yin-Yang theory (i.e., two sides of a coin). This has enabled EVs to serve as potential indicators of pathogenesis or be manipulated for therapeutic purposes by influencing immune and inflammatory pathways. This review delves into the recent advances in understanding the Yin-Yang sides of EVs and their regulation in specific inflammatory diseases. We shed light on the current prospects of engineering EVs for treating inflammatory conditions. The Yin-Yang principle of EVs bestows upon them great potential as, therapeutic, and preventive agents for inflammatory diseases. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background LncRNA PCED1B-AS1 is abnormally expressed in multiple cancers and has been confirmed as an oncogene. Our study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanism of lncRNA PCED1B-AS1 in gastric cancer. Methods TCGA database was used to analyze the abnormal expression of lncRNA PCED1B-AS1 in gastric cancer. By database prediction and mass spectrometric analysis, miR-3681-3p and MAP2K7 are potential downstream target molecules of lncRNA PCED1B-AS1 and verified by dual-luciferase report assay. RT-qPCR analysis and western blot were performed to detect the expressions of PCED1B-AS1 and MAP2K7 in gastric cancer cell lines and tissues. CCK-8 kit was applied to measure the cell viability. Wound healing and Transwell experiment were used to detect the migration and invasion. Western blot and immunohistochemical staining were performed to detect the expressions of EMT-related proteins in tissues. The changes of tumor proliferation were detected by xenograft experiment in nude mice. Results PCED1B-AS1 expression was higher but miR-3681-3 expression was lower in gastric cancer cell lines or tissues, compared to normal group. Function analysis verified PCED1B-AS1 promoted cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis in gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. LncRNA PCED1B-AS1 could bind directly to miR-3681-3p, and MAP2K7 was found to be a downstream target of miR-3681-3p. MiR-3681-3p mimics or si-MAP2K7 could partly reverse the effect of PCED1B-AS1 on gastric cancer cells. Conclusion PCED1B-AS1 accelerated cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis through sponging miR-3681-3p to upregulate MAP2K7 expression in gastric cancer, which indicated PCED1B-AS1/miR-3681-3p/MAP2K7 axis may serve as a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer.

Abstract Background Dilation may be the first right ventricular change and accelerates the progression of threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias and heart failure for patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), but the treatment for right ventricular dilation remains limited. Methods Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of blood and biventricular myocardium from 8 study participants was performed, including 6 end-stage heart failure patients with ARVC and 2 normal controls. ScRNA-seq data was then deeply analyzed, including cluster annotation, cellular proportion calculation, and characterization of cellular developmental trajectories and interactions. An integrative analysis of our single-cell data and published genome-wide association study-based data provided insights into the cell-specific contributions to the cardiac arrhythmia phenotype of ARVC. Desmoglein 2 (Dsg2)mut/mut mice were used as the ARVC model to verify the therapeutic effects of pharmacological intervention on identified cellular cluster. Results Right ventricle of ARVC was enriched of CCL3 + proinflammatory macrophages and TNMD + fibroblasts. Fibroblasts were preferentially affected in ARVC and perturbations associated with ARVC overlap with those reside in genetic variants associated with cardiac arrhythmia. Proinflammatory macrophages strongly interact with fibroblast. Pharmacological inhibition of Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), a transcriptional factor predominantly expressed by the CCL3 + proinflammatory macrophages and several other myeloid subclusters, could significantly alleviate right ventricular dilation and dysfunction in Dsg2mut/mut mice (an ARVC mouse model). Conclusions This study provided a comprehensive analysis of the lineage-specific changes in the blood and myocardium from ARVC patients at a single-cell resolution. Pharmacological inhibition of NLRP3 could prevent right ventricular dilation and dysfunction of mice with ARVC.

Abstract Background An increased acetylcholine (ACh) level in the right ventricle tissue of pulmonary hypertension (PH) was revealed, which indicated the important role of ACh in disease pathogenesis. However, the relationship between plasma ACh levels and disease conditions and patients’ prognosis has not been investigated. We aimed to explore the association between plasma ACh levels and the prognosis of patients with PH. We also discussed the feasibility of plasma ACh as a biomarker, which may contribute to the management of PH patients in the future. Methods Patients with confirmed PH in Fuwai Hospital from April 2019 to August 2020 were enrolled. The primary clinical outcome in this study was defined as a composite outcome, including death/lung transplantation, heart failure, and worsening of symptoms. Fasting plasma was collected to detect the ACh levels. The association between ACh levels and patients’ prognosis was explored. Results Finally, four hundred and eight patients with PH were enrolled and followed for a mean period of 2.5 years. Patients in the high ACh group had worse World Health Organization Functional Class (WHO-FC), lower 6-minute walk distance (6 MWD), and higher N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Notably, echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters in the high metabolite group also suggested a worse disease condition compared with the low ACh group. After adjusting for confounders, compared with low ACh patients, those with high metabolite levels still have worse prognoses characterized as elevated risk of mortality, heart failure, and symptoms worsening. Conclusion High circulating ACh levels were associated with severe PH conditions and poor prognosis, which might serve as a potential biomarker in PH.

Mechanical pretreatment is an indispensable process in biological treatment plants that remove plastics and other impurities from household biogenic waste (HBW). However, the imperfect separation of plastics in these pretreatment methods has raised concerns that they pose a secondary formation risk for microplastics (MPs). To validate this presumption, herein, quantities and properties of plastic debris and MPs larger than 50 μm were examined in the full chain of three different pretreatment methods in six plants. These facilities received HBW with or without prior depackaging at the source. The key points in the secondary formation of MPs were identified. Moreover, flux estimates of MPs were released, and an analysis of MPs sources was provided to develop an overview of their fate in HBW pretreatment. Pretreated output can contain a maximum of (1673 ± 279) to (3198 ± 263) MP particles per kilogram of wet weight (particles·kg−1 ww) for those undepackaged at source, and secondary MPs formation is primarily attributed to biomass crushers, biohydrolysis reactors, and rough shredders. Comparatively, HBW depackaged at the source can greatly reduce MPs by 8%–72%, regardless of pretreatment processes. Before pretreatment, 4.6–205.6 million MP particles were present in 100 tonnes of HBW. MPs are produced at a rate of 741.11–33 124.22 billion MP particles annually in anaerobic digester feedstock (ADF). This study demonstrated that HBW pretreatment is a competitive source of MPs and emphasized the importance of implementing municipal solid waste segregation at the source. Furthermore, depackaging biogenic waste at the source is recommended to substantially alleviate the negative effect of pretreatment on MPs formation.

Abstract Backgrounds Mounting evidences have highlighted the association between metabolites and cardiovascular diseases. Our previous works have demonstrated that circulating metabolite, trimethylamine oxide, was associated with prognosis of patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Choline is a precursor of trimethylamine oxide and its role in PH remains unknown. Here, we aimed to validate the hypothesis that circulating choline levels were associated with prognoses in patients with PH. Methods Inpatients diagnosed with PH—defined as mean pulmonary arterial pressure ≥ 25 mmHg by right heart catheterisation—from Fuwai Hospital were enrolled after excluding relative comorbidities. Fasting blood samples were obtained to assess choline levels and other clinical variables. The primary endpoints were defined as death, escalation of targeted medication, rehospitalization due to heart failure, PH deterioration. The follow-up duration was defined as the time from the choline examination to the occurrence of outcomes or the end of the study. The associations between circulating choline levels and disease severity and prognoses were explored. Results Totally, 272 inpatients with PH were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into high and low choline groups according to the 50th quartile of circulating choline levels, defined as 12.6 µM. After confounders adjustment, the high circulating choline levels were still associated with poor World Health Organization functional class, elevated N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and decreased cardiac output index indicating the severe disease condition. Moreover, elevated choline levels were associated with poor prognoses in PH patients even after adjusting for confounders (hazard ratio = 1.934; 95% CI, 1.034–3.619; P = 0.039). Subgroup analyses showed that choline levels predicted the prognosis of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension but not chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Conclusions Choline levels were associated with disease severity and poor prognoses of patients with PH, especially in pulmonary arterial hypertension suggesting its potential biomarker role.

Abstract The gut microbiota is a complex community of microorganisms inhabiting the intestinal tract, which plays a vital role in human health. It is intricately involved in the metabolism, and it also affects diverse physiological processes. The gut–lung axis is a bidirectional pathway between the gastrointestinal tract and the lungs. Recent research has shown that the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in immune response regulation in the lungs and the development of lung diseases. In this review, we present the interrelated factors concerning gut microbiota and the associated metabolites in pulmonary hypertension (PH), a lethal disease characterized by elevated pulmonary vascular pressure and resistance. Our research team explored the role of gut‐microbiota‐derived metabolites in cardiovascular diseases and established the correlation between metabolites such as putrescine, succinate, trimethylamine N‐oxide (TMAO), and N, N, N‐trimethyl‐5‐aminovaleric acid with the diseases. Furthermore, we found that specific metabolites, such as TMAO and betaine, have significant clinical value in PH, suggesting their potential as biomarkers in disease management. In detailing the interplay between the gut microbiota, their metabolites, and PH, we underscored the potential therapeutic approaches modulating this microbiota. Ultimately, we endeavor to alleviate the substantial socioeconomic burden associated with this disease. This review presents a unique exploratory analysis of the link between gut microbiota and PH, intending to propel further investigations in the gut–lung axis.

In this study, a zein-stabilized lemon essential oil Pickering emulsion (ZLPE) was incorporated into a carboxymethyl cellulose/gelatin (CMC/GL) composite film to develop a bio-based packaging material with bioactive properties. The average droplet size of the ZLPE was measured at 3.62 ± 0.08 μm, with a zeta potential of −31.33 ± 0.32 mV, highlighting its excellent stability. The image results of confocal laser microscopy and scanning electron microscopy validated the uniform distribution of ZLPE in the film. The incorporation of ZLPE reduced the water solubility of films by 45.90% and decreased its water vapor permeability by 22.61%, thereby enhancing its hydrophobicity. Additionally, the ZLPE-loaded film improved mechanical properties, enhanced UV-blocking capabilities, and increased thermal stability. The introduction of ZLPE led to the antioxidant activity of the CMC/GL film increasing by six times the original level and endowed it with outstanding antibacterial properties. As a result, cherries packaged with the ZLPE film demonstrated superior preservation performance and extended shelf life in the preservation experiment, exhibiting the film’s potential as a food packaging material.

Background: Gut microbiota assumes an essential role in the development and progression of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut microbiota-dependent metabolite, is correlated with the prognosis of patients with PAH. However, the correlation between changes in TMAO (ΔTMAO) and the prognosis of PAH remains elusive. Objectives: To investigate the association between ΔTMAO and prognosis of PAH, and explore whether dynamic assessment of TMAO level was superior to measurement at a single time point in predicting prognosis. Design: Single-center cohort study. Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed with PAH and had at least two TMAO measurements taken from May 2019 to June 2020 were eligible. The outcome events of this study were defined as adverse clinical events. Results: A total of 117 patients with PAH who had two TMAO measurements and follow-up were included in this study. Patients with ΔTMAO ⩾1.082 μmol/L had over four times increased risk of adverse clinical events than their counterparts after adjusting for confounders [hazard ratio (HR) 4.050, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.468–11.174; p = 0.007]. Patients with constant high TMAO levels at both time points had the highest risk of adverse clinical events compared with patients with constant low TMAO levels (HR 3.717, 95% CI: 1.627–8.492; p = 0.002). ΔTMAO was also associated with changes in parameters reflecting PAH severity ( p

Abstract Background Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), the gut microbiota-dependent metabolite, is a potential biomarker in several cardiovascular diseases. However, no study has investigated its value in pulmonary hypertension (PH). Therefore, this study aimed to explore the association between plasma TMAO levels and prognosis in patients with PH. Methods Inpatients with idiopathic/heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH/HPAH), PAH associated with congenital heart disease (CHD-PAH), and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) at Fuwai Hospital were enrolled after excluding those with relative comorbidities. The endpoint was defined as a composite outcome including death, rehospitalisation due to heart failure, and at least 15% decreased 6-min walk distance from the baseline. Fasting blood samples were collected to measure plasma levels of TMAO and other clinical indicators. The associations between TMAO levels with disease severity and patients’ prognosis were investigated. Results In total, 163 patients with PH were included, with a mean follow-up duration of 1.3 years. After adjusting for confounding factors, elevated TMAO levels were still associated with severe disease conditions. TMAO levels dynamically decreased in stable and improved patients after treatment [ΔTMAO = − 0.2 (− 1.6, 0.7) μmol/L, P = 0.006]. Moreover, high plasma TMAO levels predicted a poor prognosis in the PH cohort (P

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the most urgent threats to humans worldwide, which are responsible for almost one-third of global mortality. Over the last decade, research on flexible electronics for monitoring and treatment of CVDs has attracted tremendous attention. In contrast to conventional medical instruments in hospitals that are usually bulky, hard to move, monofunctional, and time-consuming, flexible electronics are capable of continuous, noninvasive, real-time, and portable monitoring. Notable progress has been made in this emerging field, and thus a number of significant achievements and concomitant research prospects deserve attention for practical implementation. Here, we comprehensively review the latest progress of flexible electronics for CVDs, focusing on new functions provided by flexible electronics. First, the characteristics of CVDs and flexible electronics and the foundation of their combination are briefly reviewed. Then, four representative applications of flexible electronics for CVDs are elaborated: blood pressure (BP) monitoring, electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring, echocardiogram monitoring, and direct epicardium monitoring. Their operational principles, progress, merits and demerits, and future efforts are discussed. Finally, the remaining challenges and opportunities for flexible electronics for cardiovascular healthcare are outlined.

The silicon carbide fiber-reinforced silicon carbide matrix (SiC/SiC), ceramic matrix composite (CMC) and nickel-based superalloy GH4169 can be utilized in high-temperature applications due to their high-temperature performance. The SiC/SiC composites are commonly used in turbine outer rings, where they encounter friction and wear against the turbine blades. This high-speed rubbing occurs frequently in aircraft engines and steam turbines. To investigate the tribological behavior of these materials, rubbing experiments were conducted between the SiC/SiC and the GH4169 superalloy. The experiments involved varying the blade tip speeds ranging from 100 m/s to 350 m/s and incursion rates from 5 μm/s to 50 μm/s at room temperature. Additionally, experiments were conducted at high temperatures to compare the tribological behavior under ambient conditions. The results indicated that the GH4169 superalloy exhibited abrasive furrow wear during rubbing at both room temperature and high temperature. Furthermore, at elevated temperatures, some of the GH4169 superalloy adhered to the surface of the SiC/SiC. The analysis of the experiments conducted at ambient temperatures revealed that the friction coefficient increased with higher blade tip velocities (100~350 m/s). However, the coefficient was lower at high temperatures compared to room temperature. Furthermore, significant temperature increases were observed during rubbing at room temperature, whereas minimal temperature changes were detected on the rubbing surface at high temperatures.

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to be a significant contributor to global mortality, imposing a substantial burden and emphasizing the urgent need for disease control to save lives and prevent disability. With advancements in technology and scientific research, novel mechanisms underlying CVDs have been uncovered, leading to the exploration of promising treatment targets aimed at reducing the global burden of the disease. One of the most intriguing findings is the relationship between CVDs and gut microbiota, challenging the traditional understanding of CVDs mechanisms and introducing the concept of the gut‐heart axis. The gut microbiota, through changes in microbial compositions and functions, plays a crucial role in influencing local and systemic effects on host physiology and disease development, with its metabolites acting as key regulators. In previous studies, we have emphasized the importance of specific metabolites such as betaine, putrescine, trimethylamine oxide, and N,N,N‐trimethyl‐5‐aminovaleric acid in the potential treatment of CVDs. Particularly noteworthy is the gut microbiota‐associated metabolite succinate, which has garnered significant attention due to its involvement in various pathophysiological pathways closely related to CVDs pathogenesis, including immunoinflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism. Furthermore, we have identified succinate as a potential biomarker, highlighting its therapeutic feasibility in managing aortic dissection and aneurysm. This review aims to comprehensively outline the characteristics of succinate, including its biosynthetic process, summarize the current evidence linking it to CVDs causation, and emphasize the host‐microbial crosstalk involved in modulating CVDs. The insights presented here offer a novel paradigm for future management and control of CVDs.

Abstract Background Pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease (CHD-PAH) is recognized as a cancer-like disease with a proliferative and pro-migratory phenotype in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Calcyclin-binding protein/Siah-1-interacting protein (CacyBP/SIP) has been implicated in the progression of various cancers; however, it has not been previously studied in the context of CHD-PAH. Here, we aimed to examine the function of CacyBP/SIP in CHD-PAH and explore its potential as a novel regulatory target for the disease. Methods The expression of CacyBP/SIP in PASMCs was evaluated both in the pulmonary arterioles of patients with CHD-PAH and in high-flow-induced PAH rats. The effects of CacyBP/SIP on pulmonary vascular remodeling and PASMC phenotypic switch, proliferation, and migration were investigated. LY294002 (MedChemExpress, NJ, USA) was used to block the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway to explore changes in PASMC dysfunction induced by low CacyBP/SIP levels. Hemodynamics and pulmonary arterial remodeling were further explored in rats after short-interfering RNA-mediated decrease of CacyBP/SIP expression. Results CacyBP/SIP expression was markedly reduced both in the remodeled pulmonary arterioles of patients with CHD-PAH and in high-flow-induced PAH rats. Low CacyBP/SIP expression promoted hPASMC phenotypic switch, proliferation, and migration via PI3K/AKT pathway activation. Our results indicated that CacyBP/SIP protected against pulmonary vascular remodeling through amelioration of hPASMC dysfunction in CHD-PAH. Moreover, after inhibition of CacyBP/SIP expression in vivo, we observed increased right ventricular hypertrophy index, poor hemodynamics, and severe vascular remodeling. Conclusions CacyBP/SIP regulates hPASMC dysfunction, and its increased expression may ameliorate progression of CHD-PAH.

Abstract Myocardial injury induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is reportedly related to disease severity and mortality, attracting attention to exploring relevant pathogenic mechanisms. Limited by insufficient evidence, myocardial injury caused by direct viral invasion of cardiomyocytes (CMs) is not fully understood. Based on recent studies, endosomal dependence can compensate for S protein priming to mediate SARS-CoV-2 infection of CMs, damage the contractile function of CMs, trigger electrical dysfunction, and tip the balance of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system to exert a myocardial injury effect. In this review, we shed light on the direct injury caused by SARS-CoV-2 to provide a comprehensive understanding of the cardiac manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

BackgroundThe worldwide prevalence of eczema has continued to rise over the past decades. This has led to the emphasis on the association between air pollution and eczema. This study investigated the relationship between daily exposure to air pollution and the number of eczema outpatient visits in Guangzhou with the overarching goal of providing novel insights on the interventions for eczema aggravation and prevention.MethodsDaily air pollution data, meteorological data, and the number of eczema outpatients were obtained from 18 January 2013 to 31 December 2018 in Guangzhou. A generalized additive model with Poisson distribution was used to assess the association between the number of eczema outpatient visits and short-term exposure to PM2.5 and PM10. In addition, the association of PM2.5 and PM10 by age (

Abstract Background Increasing numbers of tick-borne pathogens are being discovered, including those that infect humans. However, reports on co-infections caused by two or more tick-borne pathogens are scarce. Case presentation A 38-year-old male farmer was bitten by a hard tick, presented with fever (37.7 °C), severe headache and ejection vomiting. Lumbar puncture was performed in the lateral decubitus. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was clear, and analysis showed severe increased pressure (320 mm H2O), mild leukocytosis (126.0 × 106/L, mononuclear cells accounting for 73%) and elevated total protein concentration (0.92 g/L). Bacterial cultures of CSF and blood were negative. The diagnosis of Rickettsia raoultii and Tacheng tick virus 1 (TcTV-1) co-infection was confirmed by amplifying four rickettsial genetic markers and the partial small (S) RNA segment of TcTV-1 from the patient’s blood. The patient gradually recovered after treatment with levofloxacin and ribavirin. Conclusions This is the first reported co-infection case with fever and meningitis caused by R. raoultii and TcTV-1. It is vital to screen for multiple pathogens in tick-bitten patients, especially in those with severe complex symptoms.

Song, Fu, Yang, Niu, Tian, et al. present a high-quality genome assembly and transcriptome data of Taxus yunnanensis, a plant belonging to the Taxus genus known for sources of traditional medicine and natural anticancer drugs. This study explores the Taxus evolutionary history and sheds light on the Taxol biosynthetic pathway.

Reinforced concrete (RC) shear wall is one of the most widely adopted earthquake-resisting structural elements. Accurate prediction of capacity curves of RC shear walls has been of significant importance since it can convey important information about progressive damage states, the degree of energy absorption, and the maximum strength. Decades-long experimental efforts of the research community established a systematic database of capacity curves, but it is still in its infancy to productively utilize the accumulated data. In the hope of adding a new dimension to earthquake engineering, this study provides a machine learning (ML) approach to predict capacity curves of the RC shear wall based on a multi-target prediction model and fundamental statistics. This paper harnesses bootstrapping for uncertainty quantification and affirms the robustness of the proposed method against erroneous data. Results and validations using more than 200 rectangular RC shear walls show a promising performance and suggest future research directions toward data- and ML-driven earthquake engineering.

Coptis chinensis represents an early-diverging eudicot lineage with diverse medicinal applications. Here, the authors report its chromosome-scale genome assembly, infer a single ancient whole-genome duplication, and characterize the function of CYP719 in diversification of protoberberine-type alkaloids.

Abstract Background With the development and application of medical information system, semantic interoperability is essential for accurate and advanced health-related computing and electronic health record (EHR) information sharing. The openEHR approach can improve semantic interoperability. One key improvement of openEHR is that it allows for the use of existing archetypes. The crucial problem is how to improve the precision and resolve ambiguity in the archetype retrieval. Method Based on the query expansion technology and Word2Vec model in Nature Language Processing (NLP), we propose to find synonyms as substitutes for original search terms in archetype retrieval. Test sets in different medical professional level are used to verify the feasibility. Result Applying the approach to each original search term (n = 120) in test sets, a total of 69,348 substitutes were constructed. Precision at 5 (P@5) was improved by 0.767, on average. For the best result, the P@5 was up to 0.975. Conclusions We introduce a novel approach that using NLP technology and corpus to find synonyms as substitutes for original search terms. Compared to simply mapping the element contained in openEHR to an external dictionary, this approach could greatly improve precision and resolve ambiguity in retrieval tasks. This is helpful to promote the application of openEHR and advance EHR information sharing.

We used metagenomic analysis to identify Tacheng tick virus 2 infection in a patient with a history of tick bite in northwestern China. We confirmed the virus with reverse transcription-PCR, virus isolation, and genomic analysis. We detected viral RNA in 9.6% of ticks collected from the same region.

Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection has spread rapidly across the world and become an international public health emergency. Both SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV belong to subfamily Coronavirinae in the family Coronaviridae of the order Nidovirales and they are classified as the SARS-like species while belong to different cluster. Besides, viral structure, epidemiology characteristics and pathological characteristics are also different. We present a comprehensive survey of the latest coronavirus—SARS-CoV-2—from investigating its origin and evolution alongside SARS-CoV. Meanwhile, pathogenesis, cardiovascular disease in COVID-19 patients, myocardial injury and venous thromboembolism induced by SARS-CoV-2 as well as the treatment methods are summarized in this review.

Background and ObjectiveThe association between plasma betaine levels and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has been revealed except for pulmonary hypertension (PH). In this study, we aimed to explore the role of betaine in patients with PH.MethodsInpatients with PH at Fuwai Hospital were enrolled after excluding relative comorbidities. Each patient received at least one follow-up through a clinical visit, and the fasting blood was obtained both at the first and second hospitalization for betaine detection. The primary endpoint was defined as composite outcome events and the mean duration was 14.3 (6.9, 21.3) months. The associations of betaine and changes of betaine (Δbetaine) with disease severity and prognosis were explored.ResultsFinally, a total of 216 patients with PH were included and the medians for betaine plasma levels in the total patients group, low betaine, and high betaine groups were 49.8 (39.0, 68.3) μM, 39.0 (33.5, 44.7) μM, and 68.1 (57.8, 88.7) μM, respectively. High betaine was associated with poor World Health Organization Functional Class (WHO-FC), increased N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), low tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and cardiac output index even after adjusting for confounders. Patients with high betaine were over twice the risk to receive the poor prognosis than those with a low level [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.080, (95% CI: 1.033–4.188)]. Moreover, the decrease of betaine level after further treatment was positively correlated to ΔNT-proBNP indicating Δbetaine might be an effector of disease severity, and dynamic increase of betaine was also associated with poor prognosis in PH.ConclusionBetaine was associated with disease severity and might be an effector in PH. Patients with increased levels or with dynamic rise of betaine heralded a poor prognosis.

Sanghuang, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb obtained from numerous related fungal species in the genus Sanghuangporus, contains many bioactive substances that display a variety of beneficial pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, antitumor, and antidiabetic. We collected wild fruiting bodies from various Chinese localities, obtained nine pure sanghuang strains (termed S1 to S9), cultured the strains by solid-state fermentation, extracted and purified sanghuang flavonoids (termed SHFs) from mycelia, and analyzed their antioxidant abilities and α-amylase inhibitory (α-AI) activities. SHFs from strains S2, S6, S7, and S9 displayed strong DPPH radical scavenging abilities and iron reducing abilities, while SHFs from S1, S3, S5, and S8 had strong α-AI activities. SHF components were analyzed by HPLC in combination with a Chinese medicine fingerprint similarity evaluation system and statistical analyses. SHFs from the nine strains showed high fingerprint similarity. Fifteen peaks in the chromatograms (termed 1–15) were subjected to cluster analysis, which revealed that differences in SHF composition were related to geographic origin and host species. The strains with strong antioxidant activities had relatively large peak 5 and peak 9 areas, while those with strong α-AI activities had relatively large peak 13 areas. Such variation in SHF activities is attributable to differences in their components. Our findings indicate that careful selection of SHFs based on these activities will strengthen their potential development as antioxidant and antidiabetic agents.

Radial cracks appear in the labyrinth seal fins of the shrouded turbine blade of an aero-engine during service. To clarify the influence rule of rubbing force on crack initiation, a high-speed rubbing test bench and a numerical calculation model are established, and the research is carried out through experiment and numerical calculation. It is found that cracks can be initiated when the rubbing force is greater than 20 N with a high rubbing temperature at high speed. It is verified by numerical calculation and shows that pure mechanical load will not cause crack initiation, while the thermal load is the main reason for the radial crack initiation of fins. With the increase of rubbing force, the time of crack initiation increases, and the number and length of cracks decrease. At high rubbing temperatures, rubbing force will lead to radial crack initiation, which mainly affects the position of crack initiation.

Abstract Background The number of new rickettsial species are rapidly increasing, and increasing numbers of Rickettsia raoultii (R. raoultii) infection cases have been detected in humans. However, neurological abnormalities caused by R. raoultii are rarely reported, especially in northwestern China. Case presentation A 36-year-old Kazakh shepherd with an attached tick on part temporalis, presented with right eyelid droop, lethargy, fever, headache, fever (38.0–41.0 °C) and erythematous rash. The examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed cerebrospinal pressure of 200 mm H2O, leukocyte count of 300.0 × 106/L, adenosine deaminase of 2.15 U/L, and total protein concentration of 0.93 g/L. The diagnosis of R. raoultii infection was confirmed by six genetic markers, and semi-quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for rickettsial antigen. The patient gradually recovered after treatment with doxycycline and ceftriaxone. R. raoultii DNA was found both in a tick detached from this patient and in 0.18% (2/1107) of blood samples collected from local shepherds. Conclusions This is the first reported case with neurological abnormalities caused by R. raoultii in northwestern China. It is vital to detect rickettsial agents both in blood and CSF for tick bite patients with neurological abnormalities. Public health workers and physicians should pay attention to neurological abnormalities caused by Rickettsia.

Background Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined as a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) ≥25 mm Hg measured by right heart catheterization. However, the upper limit of a normal mean PAP is 20 mm Hg. There is a gap between the upper limit of normal and the threshold for diagnosing PH. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether individuals with a mildly elevated PAP, defined as 20 mm Hg < mean PAP

The labyrinth-honeycomb seals have been widely used in aero-engine. However, radial cracks appear on labyrinth seal fins of shrouded turbine blade in use. To clarify the rubbing mode of radial crack initiation, a high-speed rubbing test bench was designed. The effects of five rubbing modes on crack initiation were studied. Through the test, it is found that cracks would be formed at the junction of the fin tip and side of the labyrinth seal fins under all five modes. When two successive rubbing modes are different, the temperature of the last rubbing can be lower than that of it alone rubbing, and simultaneous radial and axial rubbing can inhibit each other. Radial rubbing mainly affects the initiation of cracks on fin tip, while axial rubbing mainly affects the initiation of cracks on the side. Moreover, the rubbing temperature is mainly affected by radial force.

In this paper, in situ observation of the cooling process of the deposited metal of low nickel high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel obtained by laser-arc hybrid surfacing welding with shielding gas containing only Ar and only N2, respectively, is carried out using the ultra-high-temperature confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). An in-depth analysis of the microstructural changes is conducted with SEM, EDS, and EBSD. The results showed that the surface substructure is refined during crystallization with shielding gas Ar. However, grains are seriously coarsened in the δ phase area. Widmanstatten γ and intragranular γ are formed as a result of δ ⟶ γ phase transition through the shear-diffusion mechanism. In the cooling process with shielding gas N2, the temperature range of each phase area narrowed obviously. Blocky γ began to appear because of the δ ⟶ γ phase transition through the diffusion mechanism. Generally, Ar and N2 have a strong effect only on the very shallow range from the surface. The area with a larger local misorientation with shielding gas Ar is at lath γ on the surface. With shielding gas N2, the large local misorientation area is the last contact position of γ during the δ ⟶ γ phase transition on the surface and cross section.

A 20 mm thick TC4 titanium alloy plate was welded by ultranarrow gap laser welding with filler wire with Ar and He as shielding gas, respectively. A characterization analysis of the microstructures and mechanical properties of the welded joint was conducted with OM, SEM, XRD, and EBSD and through the microhardness test and tensile test. The results showed that HAZ of the welded joint formed with Ar as shielding gas was much wider than that with He, and weld microstructure composition with the two shielding gases was basically consistent; phase boundary of the weld metal obtained with Ar was clearer, with a larger misorientation between the laths; α′ martensite lath in weld metal prepared with He showed obvious preferred orientation distribution, and α′ martensite microstructure was much finer; the misorientation of α′ phase grain boundary of weld microstructure prepared with Ar was slightly less distributed in high angle grain boundary than that with He; tensile property of the welded joint prepared with He was better than that with Ar; the hardness of each zone of welded joint prepared with He was less fluctuated and the hardness value measured was slightly higher than that with Ar.

Defective interfering particles (DIPs), derived naturally from viral particles, are not able to replicate on their own. Several studies indicate that DIPs exert antiviral effects via multiple mechanisms. DIPs are able to activate immune responses and suppress virus replication cycles, such as competing for viral replication products, impeding the packaging, release and invasion of viruses. Other studies show that DIPs can be used as a vaccine against viral infection. Moreover, DIPs/DI genomes display antitumor effects by inducing tumor cell apoptosis and promoting dendritic cell maturation. With genetic modified techniques, it is possible to improve its safety against both viruses and tumors. In this review, a comprehensive discussion on the effects exerted by DIPs is provided. We further highlight the clinical significance of DIPs and propose that DIPs can open up a new platform for antiviral and antitumor therapies.

Through in situ observation at high temperature confocal laser scanning microscope, the microstructures and phase transformation of Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy welded joint by laser welding with filler wire during heating, heat preservation and cooling process in simulating welding thermal cycle were studied. When the weld microstructure was heated to 380 °C, obvious grain growth was observed. After heating to 1 050 °C, weld microstructures were mostly composed of coarse β -columnar grains. During the heat preservation process of the weld metal, it could be found that the β phase boundary moved slowly. In the cooling process of weld microstructures, with the increase of the cooling rate, the transition temperature for new phase precipitation decreased gradually, and that for ending the precipitation increased gradually. The microstructures after cooling to room temperature at a rate of 0.5 °C/s and 5 °C s ^−1 were composed of α phases. At 20 °C s ^−1 , acicular α ′ martensite appeared in the microstructures. At 80 °C s ^−1 , precipitated phases were all composed of acicular α ′ martensite.The Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy weld microstructure by laser welding with filler wire is completely hexagonal close packed (HCP) crystal structure.The hardness of the weld microstructures was improved with the cooling rate getting faster.

With the rapid increase in the development of miniaturized sensors and embedded devices for vital signs monitoring, personal physiological signal monitoring devices are becoming popular. However, physiological monitoring devices which are worn on the body normally affect the daily activities of people. This problem can be avoided by using a non-contact measuring device like the Doppler radar system, which is more convenient, is private compared to video monitoring, infrared monitoring and other non-contact methods. Additionally real-time physiological monitoring with the Doppler radar system can also obtain signal changes caused by motion changes. As a result, the Doppler radar system not only obtains the information of respiratory and cardiac signals, but also obtains information about body movement. The relevant RF technology could eliminate some interference from body motion with a small amplitude. However, the motion recognition method can also be used to classify related body motion signals. In this paper, a vital sign and body movement monitoring system worked at 2.4 GHz was proposed. It can measure various physiological signs of the human body in a non-contact manner. The accuracy of the non-contact physiological signal monitoring system was analyzed. First, the working distance of the system was tested. Then, the algorithm of mining collective motion signal was classified, and the accuracy was 88%, which could be further improved in the system. In addition, the mean absolute error values of heart rate and respiratory rate were 0.8 beats/min and 3.5 beats/min, respectively, and the reliability of the system was verified by comparing the respiratory waveforms with the contact equipment at different distances.

Despite the promise of English language teaching and the use of English as a medium of instruction, concerns have been growing about the decline in the number of English majors as well as structural problems in elite language education reflected in the rural-urban divide and resulting educational gaps in China. The English education major at a top language-intensive university could serve as a key site for this investigation. However, existing literature has significantly overlooked this important area. This study explored the life course stages of Chinese students who were originally from rural areas or socioeconomically underrepresented regions/districts and majoring in English education at a top language-intensive university located in Shanghai. By adopting a critical narrative ethnographic approach, the authors wrote field notes and conducted in-depth interviews with 18 study participants. The findings showed that mothers' involvement significantly influenced students' motivation to learn English, college admission, and academic major choice. However, students also developed personal perceptions about career prospects while in college. By applying the Bourdieusian approach to language and symbolic power, this study interpreted participants' developmental process of linguistic habitus and capital, regardless of their socioeconomic status. This study further interpreted their management of accumulated linguistic capital, while critiquing existing structural problems of the elite language education system, along with the English major crisis in the Chinese higher education system. As critical narrative ethnographers, the authors presented their reflexive turns on symbolic power and the future of English education in a Sino-Anglo context.

The friction at high speed and high pressure tends to cause the lowering of grease stickiness because the frictional heating occurs at the sliding surface, which will bring to the degradation of lubricity. In order to improve the lubricity, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which has excellent heat conductivity, was added as an additive into the different types of greases. Two kinds of the CNTs, which were synthesized by a floating catalyst method at different annealing temperatures, were used. The sliding experiments were conducted to study the tribological performance of the grease composites by varying the added amounts of CNTs and were compared to the original greases. As a result, it was found that the CNTs improved both the friction and the wear properties. The optimum content of the CNTs in the grease composites was 0.3 mass%.

Resistive pressure sensors generally employ microstructures such as pores and pyramids in the active layer or on the electrodes to reduce the Young’s modulus and improve the sensitivity. However, such pressure sensors always exhibit complex fabrication process and have difficulties in controlling the uniformity of microstructures. In this paper, we demonstrated a highly sensitive resistive pressure sensor based on a composite comprising of low-polarity liquid crystal (LPLC), multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer. The LPLC in the PDMS forms a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) structure which can not only reduce the Young’s modulus but also contribute to the construction of conductive paths in the active layer. By optimizing the concentration of LC in PDMS elastomer, the resistive pressure sensor shows a high sensitivity of 5.35 kPa−1, fast response (

Objectives. This study collected and evaluated data on the costs of outpatient medical care and family burden associated with osteoporosis-related fracture rehabilitation following hospital discharge in China. Materials and Methods. Data were collected using a patient questionnaire from osteoporosis-related fracture patients (N = 123) who aged 50 years and older who were discharged between January 2011 and January 2013 from 3 large hospitals in China. The survey captured posthospital discharge direct medical costs, indirect medical costs, lost work time for caregivers, and patient ambulatory status. Results. Hip fracture was the most frequent fracture site (62.6%), followed by vertebral fracture (34.2%). The mean direct medical care costs per patient totaled 3,910¥, while mean indirect medical costs totaled 743¥. Lost work time for unpaid family caregivers was 16.4 days, resulting in an average lost income of 3,233¥. The average posthospital direct medical cost, indirect medical cost, and caregiver lost income associated with a fracture patient totaled 7,886¥. Patients’ ambulatory status was negatively impacted following fracture. Conclusions. Significant time and cost of care are placed on patients and caregivers during rehabilitation after discharge for osteoporotic fracture. It is important to evaluate the role and responsibility for creating the growing and inequitable burden placed on patients and caregivers following osteoporotic fracture.