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Cold regions exhibit a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease, particularly acute myocardial infarction (AMI), which is one of the leading causes of death associated with cardiovascular conditions. Cardiovascular disease is closely linked to the abnormal expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). This study investigates whether circulating levels of lncRNA cardiac conduction regulatory RNA (CCRR) could serve as a biomarker for AMI.

Objective·To analyze the expression of cancer-testis antigen (CTA) family member SPANXB (sperm protein associated with the nucleus on the X chromosome B) in liver cancer and its correlation with the prognosis of liver cancer patients, and to explore the impact of SPANXB on liver cancer cell proliferation and its potential mechanism.Methods·By using liver cancer sample data from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database, the expression of SPANXB in liver cancer tissue and its correlation with patient survival were analyzed. By constructing stable knockdown of SPANXB and stable overexpression of SPANXB in liver cancer cell lines, the effects of SPANXB on liver cancer cell proliferation were evaluated with live cell imaging experiments, EdU cell proliferation experiments and plate clone formation experiments. The regulatory pathways of SPANXB in liver cancer cell proliferation were explored through RNA-sequence (RNA-seq), and the effect of SPANXB on liver cancer cell cycle was validated through cell cycle experiments. Immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry (IP-MS) was used to explore the proteins that interacted with SPANXB, and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) was used to verify their interaction.Results·The expression of SPANXB mRNA in liver cancer tissues was higher than that in normal tissues (P=0.003), and was negatively correlated with the survival of liver cancer patients. Stable knockdown of SPANXB could reduce the proliferation and clone formation ability of liver cancer cells, while stable overexpression of SPANXB could promote these processes. The analysis results of RNA-seq showed that knockdown of SPANXB could lead to downregulation of DNA replication and G1/S cell cycle transition-related pathways. The results of cell cycle experiments showed that knockdown of SPANXB could result in changes in the liver cancer cell cycle. The results of IP-MS and Co-IP showed that SPAXNB interacted with cell cycle-related proteins such as mitotic arrest defect 2-like protein 1 (MAD2L1) and WD repeat domain 5 (WDR5).Conclusion·The high expression of SPANXB is negatively correlated with the prognosis of liver cancer. SPANXB may regulate the cell cycle and enhance the proliferation activity of liver cancer cells by interacting with MAD2L1 and WDR5.

Lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, has been attributed to the degeneration of the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon, with surgery reserved for recalcitrant cases. Surgical intervention of lateral epicondylitis includes release alone or release with repair. Outcomes of open surgical repair have been reported with better preservation of the grip strength than release alone. We describe a technique for the release and repair of the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon using an arthroscopic approach, which could be used to repair the extensor carpi radialis brevis with minimal invasion and to address the concomitant intra-articular pathology.

IntroductionPortal hypertension combined with hypersplenism (PHcH) is the main cause of hypocytosis and esophagogastric variceal hemorrhage in patients with liver cirrhosis. Activated macrophages that destroy excess blood cells are the main cause of hypersplenism, but the activating pathway is not very clear. This study aims to investigate the activation types of splenic macrophages and their activation mechanisms, to provide experimental evidence for the biological treatment of splenomegaly, and to find a strategy to improve liver fibrosis and inflammation by intervening in splenic immune cells. This study revealed the occurrence of M2-like polarization of macrophages and upregulation of c-Myc gene expression in the PH spleen.MethodsRNAseq, protein chip, western blot, and chip-seq were performed on macrophages and the in vitro MEK inhibitor rafametinib was used. Carbon tetrachloride and thioacetamide induced mouse cirrhosis models were separately constructed.Resultsc-Myc gene knockout in splenic macrophages reduced M2-like polarization and exacerbated liver fibrosis inflammation. c-Myc activated the MAPK signaling pathway and upregulated the expression of IL-4 and M2-like related genes in PH hypersplenism through the MEK-ERK-c-Myc axis. In addition, the c-Myc gene exerted anti-inflammatory effects by upregulating IL-4-mediated signal transduction to promote M2-like differentiation and anti-inflammatory cytokine secretion.ConclusionsActivation of MEK‐ERK‐c‐MYC signaling pathway promotes splenic M2-like macrophage polarization to inhibit PHcH-liver cirrhosis. Therefore, the induction of macrophage depolarization might represent a new therapeutic approach in the cure of PH hypersplenism, making c-Myc a potential candidate for macrophage polarization therapy.

The deoxynivalenol (DON)-contaminated feeds can impair chicken gut barrier function, disturb the balance of the intestinal microbiota, decrease chicken growth performance and cause major economic loss. With the aim of investigating the ameliorating effects of baicalin on broiler intestinal barrier damage and gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by DON, a total of 150 Arbor Acres broilers are used in the present study. The morphological damage to the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum caused by DON is reversed by treatment with different doses of baicalin, and the expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, claudin-1, and occludin) is also significantly increased in the baicalin-treated groups. Moreover, the disturbance of the intestinal microbiota caused by DON-contaminated feed is altered by baicalin treatment. In particular, compared with those in the DON group, the relative abundances of Lactobacillus, Lachnoclostridium, Ruminiclostridium and other beneficial microbes in the baicalin-treated groups are significantly greater. However, the percentage of unclassified_f__Lachnospiraceae in the baicalin-treated groups is significantly decreased in the DON group. Overall, the current results demonstrate that different doses of baicalin can improve broiler intestinal barrier function and the ameliorating effects on broiler intestinal barrier damage may be related to modulations of the intestinal microbiota.

The ultrafine WC powders with particle size of 0.5 μm were coated by nano Co particles for preparation of the fine WC/Co powder. Then it was mixed with the coarse WC and Co powders, following compacted and sintered in vacuum at 1420 ℃ for 1 h for obtaining the WC-10Co cemented carbides. The morphology, the grain structure, hardness, bending strength and fracture toughness of WC-10Co cemented carbides with the fine WC/Co and ultrafine WC for comparison were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, universal testing machine, etc. The results reveal that the addition of the fine WC/Co has greater influence on the densification of WC-10Co cemented carbides than the ultrafine WC, and can form the dual-grained structure with a mean WC grain size of 2.18 μm, and the WC-10Co with ultrafine WC has a mean WC grain size of 3.57 μm. The WC-10Co with fine WC/Co can reduce grain growth rate and hinder dissolution of the fine grains, resulting in generation of coarse grains with truncated triangular prism and stepped surface by defect-assisted and dissolution-precipitation mechanism. The WC-10Co with fine WC/Co can improve both hardness and fracture toughness, 1131HV30 and 22.1 MPa·m1/2, respectively. Furthermore, with the same hardness of 1131HV30, its fracture toughness is 27.7% higher than linear fitted fracture. The mechanism analysis shows that the addition of ultrafine WC will lead to the formation of abnormal grains, which is not conductive to the performance; while the addition of fine WC/Co simultaneously forms the dual-grained structure and uniform Co distribution structure and reduces the defects in the grains, improves the comprehensive properties.

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is effective for the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD); however, there is no objective index for the evaluation of TCM syndrome efficacy. This study aimed to screen biomarkers related to the efficacy of TCM syndrome using metabolomics.Methods: We recruited AECOPD patients with phlegm-heat congesting lung (PH)/phlegm-damp amassing lung (PD) syndrome and treated them with Chinese herbal medicine (Qingre Huatan or Zaoshi Huatan granules) in addition to conventional medicine for 7 days. Data on clinical symptoms and sign scores, modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC), COPD assessment test (CAT), and inflammation indicators, including white blood cell (WBC) count, percentage of neutrophil count (NEU%), and C-reactive protein (CRP), were collected before and after treatment to evaluate the therapeutic effect. Serum samples were collected before and after treatment for metabolomic analysis to screen differential metabolites.Results: A total of 69 patients with AECOPD were enrolled, including 41 and 28 patients in the PH and PD groups, respectively. The clinical symptoms and sign scores, CAT, mMRC, NEU%, and CRP levels after treatment were lower than those before treatment in both groups (p < 0.05). Serum metabolomics analysis showed that there were 13 differential metabolites in the PH group and 16 differential metabolites in the PD group before and after treatment (p < 0.05, variable importance projection (VIP) ≥ 1.00). In the PH group, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) (16:0), LPC (17:1), LPC (18:3), LPC (18:2), and LPC (17:0) negatively correlated with clinical symptoms and sign scores (p < 0.05); LPC (16:0), LPC (17:1), LPC (16:1), and LPC (17:0) negatively correlated with WBC (p < 0.05) and NEU% (p < 0.05); and LPC (16:0) negatively correlated with CRP levels. In the PD group, L-phenylalanine positively correlated with CRP levels (p < 0.05), and 2-methylbutyroylcarnitine positively correlated with clinical symptoms and sign (p < 0.05) and CAT scores (p < 0.05). DL-carnitine positively correlated with clinical symptoms and sign scores (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Serum metabolites may be potential indicators to objectively evaluate the efficacy of TCM syndromes; however, further large controlled trials are required to verify these findings.

Abstract Background At present, there is short of effective treatment for acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF). The treatment of IPF with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has some advantages. However, the evidence is unclear whether TCM can be recommended as an effective therapy to treat AE-IPF. The purpose of the study is to explore the efficacy and safety of TCM for patients with AE-IPF. Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, exploratory clinical trial will be performed. A total of 80 patients diagnosed with AE-IPF will be randomized into the intervention or control group. In addition to conventional treatment, the intervention group will be treated with Kangxianhuanji granule, and the control group will be given a placebo granule. The administration frequency is 10 g each time and two times daily. After 4 weeks of treatment, the patients were followed up for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes are treatment failure rate and all-cause mortality. Secondary outcome measures will include the length of hospitalization, overall survival, acute exacerbation rate, intubation rate, Modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC) score, the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (SGRQ-I) score, and arterial blood gas analysis. Discussion TCM may be beneficial in IPF. However, it has never been evaluated in patients with AE-IPF, who are incredibly prone to respiratory failure and have a high mortality rate. It is the first clinical trial to explore the efficacy and safety of TCM in the treatment of AE-IPF. This result will provide a basis for further study, which provides a high-quality evidence for the treatment of AE-IPF with TCM. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900026289 . Registered on 29 September 2019.

With the continuous reduction of energy and aggravation of environmental damage, the wind and solar complementary power generation system has received wide attention, among which the lithium battery pack is one of the most concerned components of the whole system. Accurate and effective estimation of the state of charge (SOC) of lithium battery pack not only can ensure the rational use of resources and reduce costs, but also ensure the safe and reliable operation of the system. Since the normal operation of Li-ion battery pack has strong nonlinearity, a general nonlinear equivalent circuit model is selected, the charge/discharge multiplier and ambient temperature are fully considered, the Fourier function is used to effectively fit the model parameters, and the extended Kalman filter algorithm (EKF) is used to dynamically estimate the SOC of Li-ion battery pack in combination with the traditional ampere-time integration method, and the simulation is verified by MATLAB software. The results show that the extended Kalman filter algorithm selected in the paper can effectively track the SOC of the lithium battery pack and control the tracking error below 1%.

Aiming at the problems existing in the process of river water quality detection, this paper proposes a BOD prediction model based on GA-RandomForest optimization, and evaluates the model through MAE and MAPE, and achieves good results. And the forecast experiment is carried out through the water quality data of Chaohu Lake for 3 months. The experimental results show that the BOD prediction model based on GA-RandomForest is effective, and the model is based on higher accuracy.

Because of the high precision and stability of the intelligent system, the intelligent tensioning technology can completely eliminate the interference of human factors and effectively ensure the construction quality of the prestressed tensioning. In this paper, the characteristics, principle, process flow and points for attention in the process of intelligent tensioning of precast box girder are introduced.

System degradation was usually caused by multiple-parameter degradation. The assessment result of system reliability by universal generating function was low accurate when compared with the Monte Carlo simulation. And the probability density function of the system output performance cannot be got. So the reliability assessment method based on the probability density evolution with multi-parameter was presented for complexly degraded system. Firstly, the system output function was founded according to the transitive relation between component parameters and the system output performance. Then, the probability density evolution equation based on the probability conservation principle and the system output function was established. Furthermore, probability distribution characteristics of the system output performance was obtained by solving differential equation. Finally, the reliability of the degraded system was estimated. This method did not need to discrete the performance parameters and can establish continuous probability density function of the system output performance with high calculation efficiency and low cost. Numerical example shows that this method is applicable to evaluate the reliability of multi-parameter degraded system.