Microbiome dysbiosis by antibiotics protects cartilage degradation in OAOP mice

The role of this study was to evaluate the impact of gut microbiota depletion on the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis (OP). We conducted an experimental mouse model of OA and OP over an 8-week period. The model involved destabilization of the medial meniscus and bilateral ovariectomy (OVX). To deplete the gut microbiota, we administered a course of antibiotics for 8 weeks. The severity of OA was assessed through micro-CT scanning, X-rays, and immunohistochemical staining. Microbiome analysis was performed using PCR of 16S DNA on fecal samples, and the levels of serum lipopolysaccharide, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), osteocalcin, and estrogen were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found that in comparison to the OVX+OA group, the OVX+OA+ABT group exhibited increased bone mineral density (P < 0.0001), bone volume fraction (P = 0.0051), and trabecular number (P = 0.0023) in the metaphyseal bone. Additionally, cartilage injury and levels of matrix metalloproteinase 13 were reduced in the OVX+OA+ABT group compared to the OVX+OA group. Moreover, the OVX+OA+ABT group demonstrated decreased relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, serum lipopolysaccharide (P = 0.0005), TNF-α (P < 0.0001), CTX-1 (P = 0.0002), and increased expression of bone formation markers. These findings were further supported by correlation network analyses. Depletion of gut microbiota was shown to protect against bone loss and cartilage degradation by modulating the composition of the gut microbiota in osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.

Catalytic Asymmetric Cascade Dearomatization of Indoles via a Photoinduced Pd-Catalyzed 1,2-Bisfunctionalization of Butadienes

Photoinduced Pd-catalyzed bisfunctionalization of butadienes with a readily available organic halide and a nucleophile represents an emerging and attractive method to assemble versatile alkenes bearing various functional groups at the allylic position. However, enantiocontrol and/or diastereocontrol in the C-C or C-X bond-formation step have not been solved due to the open-shell process. Herein, we present a cascade asymmetric dearomatization reaction of indoles via photoexcited Pd-catalyzed 1,2-biscarbonfunctionalization of 1,3-butadienes, wherein asymmetric control on both the nucleophile and electrophile part is achieved for the first time in photoinduced bisfunctionalization of butadienes. This method delivers structurally novel chiral spiroindolenines bearing two contiguous stereogenic centers with high diastereomeric ratios (up to >20:1 dr) and good to excellent enantiomeric ratios (up to 97:3 er). Experimental and computational studies of the mechanism have confirmed a radical pathway involving excited-state palladium catalysis. The alignment and non-covalent interactions between the substrate and the catalyst were found to be essential for stereocontrol.

Chiral Cpx Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Aziridination of Unactivated Terminal Alkenes

Chiral cyclopentadienyl-rhodium(III) Cpx Rh(III) catalysis has been demonstrated to be competent for catalyzing highly enantioselective aziridination of challenging unactivated terminal alkenes and nitrene sources. The chiral Cpx Rh(III) catalysis system exhibited outstanding catalytic performance and wide functional group tolerance, yielding synthetically important and highly valuable chiral aziridines with good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to 99 % yield, 93 % ee). This protocol presents a novel and effective strategy for synthesizing enantioenriched aziridines from simple alkenes. Various transformations were performed on the aziridine products, illustrating the versatility and synthetic potential of this protocol for constructing highly functionalized compounds.

Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Racemic 2-Substituted Indoles via Dynamic Kinetic Resolution: An Easy Access to Chiral Indolines Bearing Vicinal Stereogenic Centers

The asymmetric hydrogenation (AH) of N-unprotected indoles is a straightforward, yet challenging method to access biologically interesting NH chiral indolines. This method has for years been limited to 2/3-monosubstituted or 2,3-disubstituted indoles, which produce chiral indolines bearing endocyclic chiral centers. Herein, we have reported an innovative Pd-catalyzed AH of racemic α-alkyl or aryl-substituted indole-2-acetates using an acid-assisted dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) process, affording a range of structurally fascinating chiral indolines that contain exocyclic stereocenters with excellent yields, diastereoselectivities, and enantioselectivities. Mechanistic studies support that the DKR process relies on a rapid interconversion of each enantiomer of racemic substrates, leveraged by an acid-promoted isomerization between the aromatic indole and nonaromatic exocyclic enamine intermediate. The reaction can be performed on a gram scale, and the products can be derivatized into non-natural β-amino acids via facile debenzylation and amino alcohol upon reduction.

Preparation and Characterization of Carrageenase Immobilized onto Polyethyleneimine-Modified Pomelo Peel

In this study, carrageenase immobilization was evaluated with a concise and efficient strategy. Pomelo peel cellulose (PPC) modified by polyethyleneimine (PEI) using the physical absorption method was used as a carrier to immobilize carrageenase and achieved repeated batch catalysis. In addition, various immobilization and reaction parameters were scrutinized to enhance the immobilization efficiency. Under the optimized conditions, the enzyme activity recovery rate was more than 50% and 4.1 times higher than immobilization with non-modified pomelo peels. The optimum temperature and pH of carrageenase after immobilization by PEI-modified pomelo peel, at 60°C and 7.5 respectively, were in line with the free enzyme. The temperature resistance was reduced, inconsistent with free enzyme, and pH resistance was increased. A significant loss of activity (46.8%) was observed after reusing it thrice under optimal reaction conditions. In terms of stability, the immobilized enzyme conserved 76.0% of the initial enzyme activity after 98 days of storage. Furthermore, a modest decrease in the kinetic constant (Km) value was observed, indicating the improved substrate affinity of the immobilized enzyme. Therefore, modified pomelo peel is a verified and promising enzyme immobilization system for the synthesis of inorganic solvents.

Evaluation of inpatient services of tertiary comprehensive hospitals based on DRG payment

Objective

This study aims to evaluate inpatient services in 49 tertiary comprehensive hospitals using indicators from the diagnosis related groups (DRG) payment system.

Method

DRG data from 49 tertiary comprehensive hospitals were obtained from the quality monitoring platform for provincial hospitals, and relevant indicators were identified. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to compute the weight of each indicator. The rank sum ratio method was used to calculate the weight rank sum ratio (WRSR) value and the corresponding probit value of each hospital. The hospitals were divided into four grades based on the threshold value: excellent, good, fair, and poor.

Results

Eight indicators of the 49 hospitals were scored, and the hospital rankings of indicators varied. The No. 1 hospital ranked first in the indicators of "total number of DRG", "number of groups", and "proportion of relative weights (RW) ≥ 2". The WRSR value of the No.1 hospital was the largest (0.574), and the WRSR value of the No. 44 hospital was the smallest (0.139). The linear regression equation was established: WRSRpredicted =-0.141+0.088*Probit, and the regression model was well-fitted (F = 2066.672, p < 0.001). The cut-off values of the three WRSRspredicted by the four levels were 0.167, 0.299, and 0.431, respectively. The 49 hospitals were divided into four groups: excellent (4), good (21), average (21), and poor (3). There were significant differences in the average WRSR values of four categories of hospitals (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

There were notable variances in the levels of inpatient services among 49 tertiary comprehensive hospitals, and hospitals of the same category also showed different service levels. The evaluation results contribute to the health administrative department and the hospital to optimize the allocation of resources, improve the DRG payment system, and enhance the quality and efficiency of inpatient services.

Histological evaluation of pyrrolizidine alkaloid-induced hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome: Correlation with Drum Tower Severity Scoring

BACKGROUND

Hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome induced by pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA-HSOS) is a complication of drug-induced liver damage. Few studies have examined the relationship between pathological changes and clinical circumstances in PA-HSOS. The Drum Tower Severity Scoring System (DTSS) was developed using prognostic indicators from clinical treatment outcomes. We hypothesized that the severity of pathological damage is consistent with DTSS.

AIMS

We aimed to improve our understanding and assessment of vascular liver injury disease histopathology by studying larger sample sizes of human histopathological samples. We also wanted to confirm the link between histopathological findings and DTSS.

METHODS

The study included 62 patients with PA-HSOS who underwent transjugular liver biopsy. Their hepatic pathological tissues were evaluated. Analyses of linear regression and Spearman's correlation were employed to examine the relationship between DTSS and pathological characteristics.

RESULTS

Clinical performance and the DTSS score were used to determine histopathological severity. The sinusoidal congestion area (SCA), central venous endothelial injury (CVEI), and fibrinoid exudation in congestion foci (FECF) were significant indicators. SCA was linearly related to the DTSS score.

CONCLUSION

Our findings show that hepatic pathological characteristics correlate with DTSS scores in PA-HSOS. SCA, CVEI, and FECF may be helpful for determining PA-HSOS severity.

Non-Covalent Functionalization of Graphene Oxide with POSS to Improve the Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Composites

Phenyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) is modified onto the GO surface by using the strong π-π coupling between a large number of benzene rings at the end of the phenyl POSS structure and the graphite structure in the GO sheet, realizing the non-covalent functionalization of GO (POSS-GO). The POSS-GO-reinforced EP (POSS-GO/EP) composite material is prepared using the casting molding process. The surface morphology of GO before and after modification and its peel dispersion in EP are examined. Furthermore, the mechanical properties, cross-sectional morphology, and reinforcement mechanism of POSS-GO/EP are thoroughly examined. The results show that the cage-like skeleton structure of POSS is embedded between the GO layers, increasing the spacing between the GO layers and leading to a steric hindrance effect, which effectively prevents their stacking and aggregation and improves the dispersion performance of GO. In particular, the 0.4 phr POSS-GO/EP sample shows the best mechanical properties. This is because, on the one hand, POSS-GO is uniformly dispersed in the EP matrix, which can more efficiently induce crack deflection and bifurcation and can also cause certain plastic deformations in the EP matrix. On the other hand, the POSS-GO/EP fracture cross-section with a stepped morphology of interlaced "canine teeth" shape is rougher and more uneven, leading to more complex crack propagation paths and greater energy consumption. Moreover, the mechanical meshing effect between the rough POSS-GO surface and the EP matrix is stronger, which is conducive to the transfer of interfacial stress and the strengthening and toughening effects of POSS-GO.

Neurophysiological mechanisms of cognition in the developing brain: Insights from intracranial EEG studies

The quest to understand how the development of the brain supports the development of complex cognitive functions is fueled by advances in cognitive neuroscience methods. Intracranial EEG (iEEG) recorded directly from the developing human brain provides unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution for mapping the neurophysiological mechanisms supporting cognitive development. In this paper, we focus on episodic memory, the ability to remember detailed information about past experiences, which improves from childhood into adulthood. We review memory effects based on broadband spectral power and emphasize the importance of isolating narrowband oscillations from broadband activity to determine mechanisms of neural coordination within and between brain regions. We then review evidence of developmental variability in neural oscillations and present emerging evidence linking the development of neural oscillations to the development of memory. We conclude by proposing that the development of oscillations increases the precision of neural coordination and may be an essential factor underlying memory development. More broadly, we demonstrate how recording neural activity directly from the developing brain holds immense potential to advance our understanding of cognitive development.

Heavy macrophage infiltration identified by optical coherence tomography relates to plaque rupture

OBJECTIVE

Risk stratification plays a critical role in patients with asymptomatic carotid atherosclerotic stenosis. Heavy macrophage infiltration (HMC) is an important factor of plaque destabilization. However, in vivo imaging technologies and screening criteria for HMC remain limited. We aimed to (i) introduce algorithms for in vivo detection of macrophage infiltrations using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and (ii) to investigate the threshold of HMC and its association with plaque vulnerability.

METHODS

Ex vivo OCT images were co-registered with histopathology in 282 cross-sectional pairs from 19 carotid endarterectomy specimens. Of these, 197 randomly selected pairs were employed to define the parameters, and the remaining 85 pairs were used to evaluate the accuracy of the OCT-based algorithm in detecting macrophage infiltrations. Clinical analysis included 93 patients receiving carotid OCT evaluation. The prevalence and burden of macrophage infiltration were analyzed. Multivariable and subgroup analysis were performed to investigate the association between HMC and plaque rupture.

RESULTS

The sensitivity and specificity of algorithm for detecting macrophage infiltration were 88.0% and 74.9%, respectively. Of 93 clinical patients, ruptured plaques exhibited higher prevalence of macrophage infiltration than nonruptured plaques (83.7% [36/43] vs 32.0% [16/50], p < 0.001). HMC was identified when the macrophage index was greater than 60.2 (sensitivity = 74.4%, specificity = 84.0%). Multivariable analysis showed that HMC and multiple calcification were independent risk factors for non-lipid-rich plaque rupture.

INTERPRETATION

This study provides a novel approach and screening criteria for HMC, which might be valuable for atherosclerotic risk stratification.

Low-Dose Fractionated Radiotherapy Combined with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for T3-4 Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients: The Preliminary Results of a Phase II Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Over 70% of NPC patients were local advanced NPC (LANPC). The 5-year local recurrence-free survival rate is only 70% in T3-4 patients. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) was recommended for LANPC patients. Low-dose fractionated radiotherapy (LDFRT), which is <100cGy, induces enhanced cell killing by the hyper-radiation sensitivity phenomenon and potentiates effects of chemotherapy. The synergy of LDFRT and NACT has not been used in the clinical practice and few studies focused on it. A single arm study found the ORR of primary site was improved to 90% for head and neck squamous carcinoma patients treated with LDFRT and NACT. Our previous study found the ORR of lymph nodes was higher in LDFRT group for high-risk LANPC patients. However, another study showed there was no significant difference between LDFRT and control group for LANPC patients. So, we aimed to investigate the potential efficacy of this novel neoadjuvant therapy for T3-4 NPC patients.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A total of 60 pathological confirmed T3-4 (UICC/AJCC8th) NPC patients were prospectively enrolled in our study. They were randomly assigned to two groups. For the LDFRT group, the patients received 3 cycles of NACT (docetaxel 75mg/m2 D1, cisplatin 80mg/m2 D1) with LDFRT, and followed with CCRT. LDFRT was delivered as 50cGy per fraction twice a day to primary site on D1,2 for each cycle of NACT. The patients in the control group only received NACT and followed with CCRT. All the patients underwent IGRT. RECIST criteria and CTCAE 5.0 was used to evaluate the ORR and toxicity at post-NACT and the completion of CCRT.

RESULTS

From February 2022 to December 2022, 60 T3-4 NPC patients were included, and 30 patients for each group. For the primary site, the median volume reduction rate and the ORR after NACT was significantly improved in LDFRT group (69.27% vs 40.10%, p<0.001;93.33% vs 73.33%, p = 0.038). For the median volume reduction rate of primary site and lymph node, it was also obviously improved in LDFRT group (86.59% vs 55.43%, p<0.001). Though there was a tendency of ORR improvement in LDFRT group, but no significant difference (96.67% vs 83.33%, p = 0.195). After the completion of CCRT, the median volume reduction rate of primary site had an increased tendency in LDFRT group (96.16% vs 88.3%, p = 0.065), but the ORR had no statistical significance (LDFRT group: CR 45.8%, PR 54.2%; control group: CR 37.5%, PR 62.5%). For the toxicity, the incidence of grade 3-4 adverse events had no difference between two groups (p = 0.786). No grade 5 adverse events occurred.

CONCLUSION

LDFRT combined with NACT could obviously improve the median volume reduction rate and ORR of primary tumor for T3-4 NPC patients, and the toxicity was similar and tolerable. This novel treatment could be a promising strategy to improve treatment response and needed to be confirmed further.

Chicoric Acid Presented NLRP3-Mediated Pyroptosis through Mitochondrial Damage by PDPK1 Ubiquitination in an Acute Lung Injury Model

Chicoric acid (CA), a functional food ingredient, is a caffeic acid derivative that is mainly found in lettuce, pulsatilla, and other natural plants. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of CA in acute lung injury (ALI) remain poorly understood. This study was conducted to investigate potential drug usage of CA for ALI and the underlying molecular mechanisms of inflammation. C57BL/6 mice were given injections of liposaccharide (LPS) to establish the in vivo model. Meanwhile, BMDM cells were stimulated with LPS+ATP to build the in vitro model. CA significantly alleviated inflammation and oxidative stress in both the in vivo and in vitro models of ALI through the inhibition of NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3)-mediated pyroptosis. In addition, CA attenuated mitochondrial damage to suppress NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in the in vivo and in vitro models of ALI by suppressing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via inhibiting the Akt/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. CA inhibited the interaction between Akt at T308 and phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDPK1) at S549, thus promoting the phosphorylation of the Akt protein. Furthermore, CA directly targeted the PDPK1 protein and accelerated PDPK1 ubiquitination, indicating that 91-GLY, 111-LYS, 126-TYR, 162-ALA, 205-ASP, and 223-ASP might be responsible for the interaction between PDPK1 and CA. In conclusion, CA from Lettuce alleviated NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in the ALI model through ROS-induced mitochondrial damage by activating Akt/Nrf2 pathway via PDPK1 ubiquitination. The present study suggests that CA might be a potential therapeutic drug to treat or prevent ALI in pneumonia or COVID-19.

Pollution characteristics and microbial community succession of a rural informal landfill in an arid climate

Informal landfills pose potential threats to the environment and human health due to the lack of anti-seepage measures. However, little research has been conducted on the distribution of pollutants in informal landfill sites situated in arid climates, as well as the underlying interaction mechanisms between environmental factors and microbial structure. In this study, we sought to investigate the pollution characteristics and microbial community succession of the landfill in northern China. The results revealed that heavy metals in the landfill showed poor mobility and migration. The lower layers of the garbage samples had higher water-soluble contents of heavy metals compared to the upper layers. The landfill-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) was found to originate from microbial production, and four fluorescent components were identified, including fulvic acid-like substances, humus-like substances, and protein-like components. Fluorescence intensity and humification degree increased with increasing depth. The microbial diversity and richness decreased with sampling depth. The most abundant phyla in the samples were Proteobacteria, unidentified_Bacteria, Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Myxococcota, Gemmatimonadota, Actinobacteria, and Deinococcota. As the sampling depth increased, Proteobacteria decreased, while Bacteroidota and Firmicutes showed a remarkable increase, with little variation observed in the other phyla. The partial least-squares path model (PLS-PM) results indicated that pH had the most significant effect on microbial abundance and diversity (direct effect value = -5.560), while DOM and heavy metals had the opposite effect, with direct effects of 1.838 and 3.231, respectively. DOM was identified as the driving factor for the variation in other environmental factors. The redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the dominant genera were greatly influenced by Cu, humic-like substances, and protein-like substances. Among them, Bacillus, Alcanivorax, Devosia, and Chryseolinea may play important roles in the remediation of landfills. Our study not only gains a deeper understanding of the pollution risk of informal landfills in arid climates, but also provides a scientific basis for the future treatment and restoration of contaminated sites associated with landfills.

CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND PREDICTORS OF MORTALITY DIFFER BETWEEN PULMONARY AND ABDOMINAL SEPSIS

ABSTRACT

Background: Pulmonary sepsis and abdominal sepsis have pathophysiologically distinct phenotypes. This study aimed to compare their clinical characteristics and predictors of mortality. Methods: In this multicenter retrospective trial, 1,359 adult patients who fulfilled the Sepsis-3 criteria were enrolled and classified into the pulmonary sepsis or abdominal sepsis groups. Plasma presepsin was measured, and the scores of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II, Mortality in Emergency Department Sepsis (MEDS), and Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II were calculated at enrollment. Data on 28-day mortality were collected for all patients. Results: Compared with patients with abdominal sepsis (n = 464), patients with pulmonary sepsis (n = 895) had higher 28-day mortality rate, illness severity scores, incidence of shock and acute kidney injury, and hospitalization costs. Lactate level and APACHE II and MEDS scores were independently associated with 28-day mortality in both sepsis types. Independent predictors of 28-day mortality included Pa o2 /F io2 ratio (hazard ratio [HR], 0.998; P < 0.001) and acute kidney injury (HR, 1.312; P = 0.039) in pulmonary sepsis, and SAPS II (HR, 1.037; P = 0.017) in abdominal sepsis. A model that combined APACHE II score, lactate, and MEDS score or SAPS II score had the best area under the receiver operating characteristic curve in predicting mortality in patients with pulmonary sepsis or abdominal sepsis, respectively. Interaction term analysis confirmed the association between 28-day mortality and lactate, APACHE II score, MEDS score, SAPS II score, and shock according to the sepsis subgroups. The mortality of patients with pulmonary sepsis was higher than that of patients with abdominal sepsis among patients without shock (32.9% vs. 8.8%; P < 0.001) but not among patients with shock (63.7 vs. 48.4%; P = 0.118). Conclusions: Patients with pulmonary sepsis had higher 28-day mortality than patients with abdominal sepsis. The study identified sepsis subgroup-specific mortality predictors. Shock had a larger effect on mortality in patients with abdominal sepsis than in those with pulmonary sepsis.

Effect of continuous subanesthetic esketamine infusion on postoperative fatigue in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical resection for colorectal cancer: a randomized controlled study

This study aimed to examine the effect of subanesthetic esketamine on postoperative fatigue in patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery. A total of 62 patients, including 32 in the esketamine group and 30 in the control group, were analysed in this study. Compared with the control group, the patients in the esketamine group had reduced Identity-Consequence Fatigue Scale (ICFS) on the 3rd and 7th days after surgery (P<0.05). There were also significant differences in the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) scale between the two groups. The positive affect scale was higher on postoperative day 3 (POD3), while the negative affect scale was lower on POD3 and postoperative day 7 (POD7) in the esketamine group than in the control group. However, the scores of postoperative hand grip strength, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) were not significantly different between the two groups. Furthermore, mediation analysis showed that esketamine played an anti-fatigue role through improving emotional heath. Importantly, no adverse reactions occurred at this dosage of esketamine. Finally, our study suggested that subanesthetic esketamine improved postoperative fatigue, stabilized postoperative mood, reduced intraoperative remifentanil consumption, and promoted postoperative intestinal function recovery without increasing adverse reactions.

A comprehensive analysis of partial peristalsis recovery after peroral endoscopic myotomy in patients with achalasia

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) improves esophageal peristalsis and investigate the association between the presence of peristalsis after POEM and clinico-physiological features.

METHODS

In a single center retrospective study, data were gathered from patients with achalasia who underwent POEM between January 2014 and May 2016. Parameters of high-resolution esophageal manometry, demographics data, Eckardt score and post-procedural gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (GERD-Q) score were collected. Presence of weak and fragmented contraction was defined as partial recovery of esophageal peristalsis based on Chicago classification v3.0. Logistic regression analysis was used to study variables associated with partial recovery of peristalsis after POEM.

RESULTS

A total of 103 patients were enrolled. Esophageal contractile activity was observed in the distal two-thirds of the esophagus in 24 patients. The Eckardt score, integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) resting pressure were significantly decreased after POEM. Univariate analyses revealed the correlation between preprocedural LES resting pressure as well as weight loss score, reflux score, Eckardt score and peristaltic recovery (all P < 0.05). Via multivariate analysis, preprocedural LES resting pressure (P = 0.013) and preprocedural Eckardt score (P = 0.002) were correlated with peristalsis recovery. Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux and reflux esophagitis after POEM were less frequent in those with partial recovery of peristalsis (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Normalization of esophagogastric junction relaxation pressure achieved by POEM is associated with partial recovery of esophageal peristalsis in some patients. Preprocedural LES resting pressure and symptom score are predictive of the peristalsis recovery which prevents GERD symptoms and reflux esophagitis.

Perioperative pregabalin reduced fatigue scores after thoracoscopic pneumonectomy in a RCT of NSCLC patients

Postoperative fatigue is prevalent, but non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receive poor treatment after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The main objective of the present trial is to observe the anti-fatigue function of pregabalin in NSCLC patients after surgery. Patients requiring VATS pneumonectomy were randomized into two groups (n=33): the experimental and control groups. The results showed that the experimental group's Identity-Consequence Fatigue Scale (ICFS) scores on days 1, 3, 7, and 30 after the operation decreased more than those of the control group. On days 1, 2, and 3 following surgery, there were significant differences in the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, the incidence rate of anxiety and depression, and the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) scores between the two groups. Furthermore, we discovered that the ICFS scores were positively related to the VAS scores, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores, and AIS scores. Postoperative fatigue and pain, on the other hand, were more closely related. Finally, this analysis suggested that perioperative pregabalin can reduce postoperative fatigue in NSCLC patients by relieving postoperative pain, anxiety, and depression, improving postoperative sleep quality, and promoting early recovery.

Nobiletin attenuates monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension through PI3K/Akt/STAT3 pathway

OBJECTIVES

Nobiletin is a flavonoid found in the peel of Citrus sinensis (oranges). The purpose of this study is to investigate whether Nobiletin can alleviate the monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and explore the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

The PAH rat model was replicated by subcutaneous injection of MCT. Nobiletin (1, 5 and 10 mg/kg) was administered by gavage from day 1 to day 21. After 21 days of MCT injection, the mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, Fulton Index, pulmonary artery remodelling, blood routine parameters, liver and kidney functions was measured. The level of inflammatory cytokines and PI3K/Akt/STAT3 were detected by qPCR, ELISA and western blot, the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) was evaluated by CCK-8.

KEY FINDINGS

Nobiletin (10 mg/kg) inhibited the MCT-induced increase in mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance, right ventricular hypertrophy and pulmonary artery remodelling in rats. Nobiletin decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines and phosphorylation level of PI3K/Akt/STAT3 in lungs of MCT-treated rats. Nobiletin inhibited the proliferation and lowered the inflammatory cytokines level induced by PDGF-BB in PASMCs.

CONCLUSION

Nobiletin attenuates MCT-induced PAH, and the potential mechanism is to inhibit inflammation through PI3K/Akt/STAT3 pathway.

Impact of tectoridin on the pharmacokinetics of florfenicol via targeting cytochrome P450 and P-glycoprotein of rats

Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC, commonly used with florfenicol in Chinese veterinary clinics for respiratory tract infections, contains the major effective isoflavone, tectoridin (TEC). This study aimed to investigate the impact of TEC co-administration on the pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in vivo.Male rats received oral TEC (50 mg/kg BW) or sterile water for seven days, followed by a single oral dose of florfenicol (25 mg/kg BW) on the 8th day. Non-compartmental methods analysed the pharmacokinetics of florfenicol, while real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot, and immunohistochemical analyses measured expression levels of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms in the liver and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in the jejunum.TEC significantly decreased florfenicol's AUC(0-∞), MRT(0-∞), t1/2z, Vz/F, and Cmax by 24.75%, 18.43%, 55.47%, 43.05%, and 19.48%, while increasing CLz/F by 33.33%. TEC also up-regulated hepatic CYP1A2 and CYP3A1 mRNA expression, as well as intestinal MDR1, by 1.39-fold, 1.85-fold, and 1.65-fold. This coincided with a respective increase in protein expression by 1.37-fold, 1.39-fold, and 1.43-fold.These findings suggest that TEC-induced alterations in the pharmacokinetics of florfenicol may be attributed to increased CYP and P-gp expression. Further investigations are warranted to understand the implications of these findings on the clinical effectiveness of florfenicol in veterinary practice.

Modeling and Verification of Rolling Resistance Torque of High-Speed Rubber Track Assembly Considering Hysteresis Loss

Due to the viscoelasticity of rubber materials, hysteresis loss due to deformation is the main reason for the rolling resistance of high-speed rubber tracks. Since the structure and material of high-speed rubber track assemblies are different from traditional tires and metal tracks, the rolling resistance theory of traditional wheeled and tracked vehicles is not applicable. Therefore, in order to determine the rolling resistance scientifically and accurately, the mechanism research of the rolling resistance of high-speed rubber track assembly is the key to the design of high-speed rubber crawler vehicles. In this paper, the stress–strain characteristics of rubber track under the action of compression, tension, bending, and driving were studied. The strain load spectrum of rubber tracks was established, and the strain cyclic load was extracted by the rainflow method. The temperature model of the rubber track was developed based on its dynamic characteristics. On the basis of energy conservation, the hysteresis loss of rubber is equivalent to the energy consumption of rolling resistance, and the theoretical model of rolling resistance of high-speed rubber track assembly is established. In accordance with the model above, the key influencing factors and changing trends of rolling resistance are analyzed, which provides a theoretical basis for the performance optimization of high-speed rubber track assembly.

A significant, functional and replicable risk KTN1 variant block for schizophrenia

Cortical and subcortical structural alteration has been extensively reported in schizophrenia, including the unusual expansion of gray matter volumes (GMVs) of basal ganglia (BG), especially putamen. Previous genome-wide association studies pinpointed kinectin 1 gene (KTN1) as the most significant gene regulating the GMV of putamen. In this study, the role of KTN1 variants in risk and pathogenesis of schizophrenia was explored. A dense set of SNPs (n = 849) covering entire KTN1 was analyzed in three independent European- or African-American samples (n = 6704) and one mixed European and Asian Psychiatric Genomics Consortium sample (n = 56,418 cases vs. 78,818 controls), to identify replicable SNP-schizophrenia associations. The regulatory effects of schizophrenia-associated variants on the KTN1 mRNA expression in 16 cortical or subcortical regions in two European cohorts (n = 138 and 210, respectively), the total intracranial volume (ICV) in 46 European cohorts (n = 18,713), the GMVs of seven subcortical structures in 50 European cohorts (n = 38,258), and the surface areas (SA) and thickness (TH) of whole cortex and 34 cortical regions in 50 European cohorts (n = 33,992) and eight non-European cohorts (n = 2944) were carefully explored. We found that across entire KTN1, only 26 SNPs within the same block (r2 > 0.85) were associated with schizophrenia across ≥ 2 independent samples (7.5 × 10-5 ≤ p ≤ 0.048). The schizophrenia-risk alleles, which increased significantly risk for schizophrenia in Europeans (q < 0.05), were all minor alleles (f < 0.5), consistently increased (1) the KTN1 mRNA expression in 12 brain regions significantly (5.9 × 10-12 ≤ p ≤ 0.050; q < 0.05), (2) the ICV significantly (6.1 × 10-4 ≤ p ≤ 0.008; q < 0.05), (3) the SA of whole (9.6 × 10-3 ≤ p ≤ 0.047) and two regional cortices potentially (2.5 × 10-3 ≤ p ≤ 0.042; q > 0.05), and (4) the TH of eight regional cortices potentially (0.006 ≤ p ≤ 0.050; q > 0.05), and consistently decreased (1) the BG GMVs significantly (1.8 × 10-19 ≤ p ≤ 0.050; q < 0.05), especially putamen GMV (1.8 × 10-19 ≤ p ≤ 1.0 × 10-4; q < 0.05, (2) the SA of four regional cortices potentially (0.010 ≤ p ≤ 0.048), and (3) the TH of four regional cortices potentially (0.015 ≤ p ≤ 0.049) in Europeans. We concluded that we identified a significant, functional, and robust risk variant block covering entire KTN1 that might play a critical role in the risk and pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

α-Mangostin Inhibited M1 Polarization of Macrophages/Monocytes in Antigen-Induced Arthritis Mice by Up-Regulating Silent Information Regulator 1 and Peroxisome Proliferators-Activated Receptor γ Simultaneously

Background

α-Mangostin (MG) showed the potentials in alleviating experimental arthritis, inhibiting inflammatory polarization of macrophages/monocytes, and regulating peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) and silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) signals. The aim of this study was to analyze the correlations among the above-mentioned properties.

Methods

Antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) was established in mouse, which was treated with MG in combination with SIRT1/PPAR-γ inhibitors to clarify the role of the two signals in the anti-arthritic actions. Pathological changes were systematically investigated. Phenotypes of cells were investigated by flow cytometry. Expression and co-localization of SIRT1 and PPAR-γ proteins in joint tissues were observed by the immunofluorescence method. Finally, clinical implications from the synchronous up-regulation of SIRT1 and PPAR-γ were validated by experiments in vitro.

Results

SIRT1 and PPAR-γ inhibitors (nicotinamide and T0070097) reduced the therapeutic effects of MG on AIA mice, and abrogated MG-induced up-regulation of SIRT1/PPAR-γ and inhibition of M1 polarization in macrophages/monocytes. MG has a good binding affinity to PPAR-γ, and MG promoted the co-expression of SIRT1 and PPAR-γ in joints. Synchronously activating SIRT1 and PPAR-γ was revealed to be necessary by MG to repress inflammatory responses in THP-1 monocytes.

Conclusion

MG binds PPAR-γ and excites this signaling to initiate ligand-dependent anti-inflammatory activity. Due to certain unspecified signal transduction crosstalk mechanism, it then promoted SIRT1 expression and further limited inflammatory polarization of macrophages/monocytes in AIA mice.

Palladium-Catalyzed Chemo- and Regioselective C-H Bond Functionalization of Phenols with 1,3-Dienes

Chemo- and site-selective functionalization of phenols offers a rapid strategy for the synthesis of phenol derivatives with diverse structures. Herein, we report a Pd-catalyzed regioselective C-H bond allylic alkylation of phenols with 1,3-dienes, which has precision reactivity at the ortho C-H bond of 2-naphthols, 1-naphthols, and electron-rich phenols. The reaction is accelerated by a diphosphine ligand, does not need any other additive, and features broad substrate scope and good chemo- and regioselectivity. In addition, we have also investigated the asymmetric variant, and the product could be achieved in up to 55% ee.

A novel modified McLaughlin surgery for treating locked chronic posterior shoulder dislocation

BACKGROUND

Posterior shoulder dislocation is an uncommon orthopaedics injury and is frequently missed or misdiagnosed, accounting for 2%-4% of all shoulder dislocations, and is associated with the reverse Hill-Sachs lesion. Once posterior shoulder dislocation develops into a chronic disease, it will bring a lot of trouble to the treatment, especially in repairing the humeral defects. Surgical strategies are also developing and innovating to deal with this injury, including transfer of subscapularis tendon or lesser tubercle, humeral rotational osteotomy, autogenous bone graft or allograft. Shoulder replacement seems to be the ultimate and only option when the injury becomes irreparable, although some studies have shown unsatisfactory follow-up results. Considering no gold-standard treatment for locked posterior shoulder dislocation, we described a novel modified McLaughlin procedure for locked chronic posterior shoulder dislocation and evaluated the functional outcomes.

METHODS

This study included five locked chronic posterior shoulder dislocation patients with an associated reverse Hill-Sachs lesion, in which the compression surface covered 30-40% of the humeral head. The mean period from injury to receiving surgery was 11.6 weeks (6-24 weeks). All five patients underwent the modified McLaughlin procedure, mainly divided into three steps, including open reduction, transfer of the partial lesser tuberosity and artificial bone to repair the reverse Hill-Sachs defects. The kernel technique was to fix the transferred tuberosity with two lag screws and strengthen it with two Ethibond sutures. The Constant-Murley score (CMS), the range of shoulder motion and the complications were recorded to assess and compare the functional situation of the shoulder postoperatively and postoperatively.

RESULTS

After an average of 19.8 months (12-30) of follow-up, the mean CMS improved to 85.8 ± 4.9 (79-91) compared with 46.0 ± 4.5 (40-52) preoperatively, which showed a significant difference (p = 0.001). In the final follow-up, all five patients showed no symptoms of shoulder instability, and there was no pain or limited activity in daily life, thus all patients were satisfied with the results.

CONCLUSION

Repairing the reverse Hill-Sachs lesion by transferring the partial lesser tuberosity combined with artificial bone fixed by lag screws and sutures can ensure shoulder stability and provide pain relief and good function in patients with locked chronic posterior shoulder dislocation associated with the humeral head defect.

Xanthones from securidaca inappendiculata antagonizes the anti-rheumatic effect of methotrexate by inhibiting reduced folate carrier 1

BACKGROUND

The first-line anti-rheumatic drug methotrexate (MTX) is used in the combination. Because of the unpredictable adverse reactions, optimization of relevant regimens is necessary and meaningful. This study aimed to study the possible interaction between Securidaca inappendiculate Hassk. Derived xanthones and MTX.

METHODS

We established adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) model, which was treated with MTX and MTX + xanthone-rich fraction (XRF). The clinical efficacy was evaluated by histopathological examination, and LC-MS was used to monitor the blood concentration of MTX. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to detect protein expression. In vitro, we assessed the activity of related transporters by cellular uptake assay based on HEK-293T cells.

RESULTS

Compared with MTX-treated rats, inflammation in the immunized rats in the MTX + XRF group was obvious, indicating that XRF antagonized the anti-rheumatic effect of MTX. Meanwhile, XRF reduced liver and kidney injuries caused by MTX in addition to MTX. Results from immunohistochemical and nappendiculat assays suggested that XRF may reduce uptake of MTX by down-regulating reduced folate carrier 1 (RFC1).

CONCLUSION

This study indicated that XRF could reduce the plasma concentration of MTX by inhibiting the expression of RFC1, antagonize the therapeutic effect of MTX on AIA rats, and reduce its oral bioavailability. The combination of S. inappendiculate and MTX should be further optimized to achieve the goal of increasing efficiency and reducing toxicity.

Crosstalk between melatonin and reactive oxygen species in fruits and vegetables post-harvest preservation: An update

Fruits and vegetables contain numerous nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, phenolic compounds, and dietary fibers. They reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and the risk of certain chronic diseases, and improve the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity. Moreover, melatonin was found in various fruits and vegetables species. Melatonin acts as a multifunctional compound to participate in various physiological processes. In recent years, many advances have been found that melatonin is also appraised as a key modulator on the fruits and vegetables post-harvest preservation. Fruits and vegetables post-harvest usually elicit reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and accumulation. Excess ROS stimulate cell damage, protein structure destruction, and tissue aging, and thereby reducing their quality. Numerous studies find that exogenous application of melatonin modulates ROS homeostasis by regulating the antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidants systems. Further evidences reveal that melatonin often interacts with hormones and other signaling molecules, such as ROS, nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), and etc. Among these 'new' molecules, crosstalks of melatonin and ROS, especially the H₂O₂ produced by RBOHs, are provided in fruits and vegetables post-harvest preservation in this review. It will provide reference for complicated integration of both melatonin and ROS as signal molecules in future study.

The Involvement of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism Alteration in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Its Clinical Implication

Obviously, immune cells like T cells and macrophages play a major role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). On one hand, the breakdown of immune homeostasis directly induces systemic inflammation; on the other hand, these cells initiate and perpetuate synovitis and tissue damages through the interaction with fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). In recent years, the pathological link between metabolic disorders and immune imbalance has received increasing attention. High energy demand of immune cells leads to the accumulation of metabolic byproducts and inflammatory mediators. They act on various metabolism-sensitive signal pathways as well as relevant transcription factors, such as HIF-1α, and STATs. These molecular events will impact RA-related effectors like circulating immune cells and joint-resident cells in return, allowing the continuous progression of systemic inflammation, arthritic manifestations, and life-threatening complications. In other words, metabolic complications are secondary pathological factors for the progression of RA. Therefore, the status of energy metabolism may be an important indicator to evaluate RA severity, and in-depth explorations of the mechanisms underlying the mystery of how RA-related metabolic disorders develop will provide useful clues to further clarify the etiology of RA, and inspire the discovery of new anti-rheumatic targets. This article reviews the latest research progress on the interactions between immune and metabolism systems in the context of RA. Great importance is attached to the changes in certain pathways controlling both immune and metabolism functions during RA progression.

HSA-MIR-183-3P TARGETING ATAXIA-TELANGIECTASIA MUTATED PROTEIN REGULATION OF NF-ΚB SIGNALING PATHWAY AFFECTS CELLULAR SENESCENCE CAUSED BY DNA DAMAGE IN LUMBAR DISC DEGENERATION

Aims

To test the effect of Hsa-miR-183-3p on cell aging and disc degeneration in lumbar intervertebral disc.

Methods

This study combined clinical research with basic cell experiment, analyzing clinical data from patients with lumbar disc degeneration and traumatic lumbar spine fracture, as well as the differences in baseline data. The degree of lumbar disc injury in patients of different ages was also compared. Differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted via GEO database, and qPCR confirmation was determined by collecting cartilage endplates from two groups. ACAN, Col2A1, p16, p21, and p53 were detected by immunofluorescence, Western blot and qPCR in human nucleus pulposus cells. Changes of cell senescence were detected. The binding of Hsa-miR-183-3p to ataxia-telangiectasia mutated protein was confirmed by dual luciferase reporter assay.

Results

Degenerative discs showed elevated expression of hsa-miR-183-3p, which may be upregulated by TNF-α via NF-κB signaling pathway and target ataxia-telangiectasia mutated protein regulation.

Conclusion

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc can be accelerated by TNF-α. Additionally, Hsa-miR-183-3p passed NF-κB signaling pathway is blocked via up-regulation of TNF-α to reduce inflammation via targeting ataxia-telangiectasia mutated protein. As a result, this negative feedback mechanism may assist in maintaining a low degenerative load and preserving chronic disc degeneration.

Synthesis of Chiral Primary Amines via Enantioselective Reductive Amination: from Academy to Industry

Chiral primary amines widely exist in drugs and are exceptionally important subunits or synthons toward the syntheses of chiral secondary and tertiary amines of medicinal interest. Metal-catalyzed enantioselective reductive amination (ERA) of ketones with ammonium salts or ammonia provides a direct method for the synthesis of them. Although very useful, progress in this field is very slow and important advance has just been achieved in the last few years. Several major challenges exist in this reaction, including 1) the reversible formation of unstable NH imine intermediates; 2) the strong coordination property of N-containing reagents toward metal species ; 3) the lack of efficient catalytic systems that enable high enantiocontrol. Generally, the efficiency and enantiocontrol of this reaction is dependent on substrate types, for instance, α-keto esters/amides or aryl alkyl ketones have been well established and even used in industrial production of chiral amine drugs. However, highly enantioselective control on dialkyl ketones, cyclic ketones and α-keto acids remains unsolved. Herein, the historical development of ERA reactions with ammonium salts or ammonia gas are summarized, and the novel synthetic applications toward useful synthons or drugs are presented. In addition, the bottlenecks of this method are also discussed in the review.

Molecular Dynamics Studies of the Mechanical Behaviors and Thermal Conductivity of Polyisoprene with Different Degrees of Polymerization

Polyisoprene, with a high degree of polymerization, is the main component of natural rubber. In the industrial production process, it is necessary to adjust the length of the macromolecule of polyisoprene to improve its plasticity. It is thus of vital importance to explore the effect of the degree of polymerization of polyisoprene on its properties, e.g., mechanical property and thermal property. Molecular dynamics simulations link microstructure to macroscopic properties. In this paper, Moltemplate was used to establish polyisoprene models with different degrees of polymerization, and the mechanical properties of polyisoprene under uniaxial tension were analyzed under an OPLS all-atom force field. The results showed that the strength and elastic modulus of the material increased with the increase in the degree of polymerization of the molecular chain. In the process of tensile loading, the non-bonded potential energy played a dominant role in the change of the total system potential energy. Then, the thermal conductivity of polyisoprene with different degrees of polymerization was calculated by the non-equilibrium molecular dynamics method (NEMD). The thermal conductivity of PI was predicted to converge to 0.179 W/(m·K). The mechanism of thermal conductivity of the polymer containing branched chains was also discussed and analyzed. The research content of this paper aims to provide theoretical support for improving the mechanical and thermal properties of natural rubber base materials.

Study on the Construction of Dopamine/Poly(ethyleneimine)/Aminoated Carbon Nanotube Multilayer Films on Aramid Fiber Surfaces to Improve the Mechanical Properties of Aramid Fibers/Epoxy Composites

To improve the mechanical properties of aramid fiber (AF) reinforced epoxy resin (EP) composites without damaging the strength of the AF body, in this paper, poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) and aminoated carbon nanotubes (NH₂-CNTs) were successfully deposited on the AF surface layer by layer using poly(dopamine) (PDA) as the initial layer. The modified aramid fibers PDA-AF, PEI-PDA-AF, and NH₂-CNTs-PEI-PDA-AF were prepared. The microstructure and chemical composition of the AF surface at different modification stages were systematically characterized. The interfacial properties, mechanical properties, and strengthening mechanism of AF surface-modified composites were studied. The results showed that with the successful deposition of PDA, PEI, and NH₂-CNTs layer by layer, the interfacial properties and mechanical properties of the composites gradually improved. Among them, NH₂-CNTs-PEI-PDA-AF showed the best strengthening effect. Compared with the unmodified aramid fiber (R-AF), the monofilament tensile strength of NH₂-CNTs-PEI-PDA-AF increased by 8.1%, the contact angle with EP decreased by 21.9%, and the interface energy and adhesion energy increased by 115 and 21.4%, respectively. Compared with R-AF/EP, the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), bending strength, and tensile strength of NH₂-CNTs-PEI-PDA-AF/EP were increased by 75, 44.5, and 14.9%, respectively. The significant improvement of the interface properties and mechanical properties between NH₂-CNTs-PEI-PDA-AF and EP can be attributed to the introduction of a large number of amino active groups in the NH₂-CNTs-PEI-PDA coating layer on the AF surface, which strengthens the chemical-bond cooperation between the AF and EP matrix. At the same time, a large number of NH₂-CNTs deposited on the surface effectively increased the surface roughness of AF, improved the mechanical meshing between the AF and EP matrix, and then improved the contact angle, surface energy, and interface bonding strength between the AF and EP matrix. Moreover, a large number of NH₂-CNTs on the surface of AF also modified and enhanced the EP in the interface region, which could make the load more effectively transfer from the resin to the fiber, so that AF could carry the load more uniformly, significantly improving the mechanical properties of NH₂-CNTs-PEI-PDA-AF/EP.

Enhanced removal of tetracycline via advanced oxidation of sodium persulfate and biochar adsorption

Advanced oxidation of antibiotic tetracycline (TC) is becoming an accessible and efficient technology. The removal of TC from the complex wastewater needs to be lucubrated. In this study, a TC removal system involving degradation and adsorption was established. TC degradation was accomplished by enhanced advanced oxidation via the addition of sodium persulfate (SP) and biochar into simulated wastewater containing Mn²⁺ and TC wastewater. The adsorption of TC and its derivatives was removed by biochar. The results indicate that the optimized reaction parameters were 3.0 g/L of biochar prepared at 600 °C (B600) and 400 mg/L of SP under acidic condition, and the removal percentage of TC was 87.48%, including 74.23% of degradation and 13.28% of adsorption; the anions Cl^-, NO₃^-, and H₂PO₄^- had negligible effects on the removal of TC in this Mn²⁺/B600/SP system. The system also functioned well with an aqueous solution with a high chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis indicated that ·OH and SO₄^- free radicals were present in the Mn²⁺/B600/SP system. Based on the testing and analysis results, a removal mechanism and potential TC degradation pathway for this system were proposed. TC can be degraded by ·OH and SO₄^- via three degradation pathways. Mn²⁺ can be precipitated as MnO₂, and a part of the TC and its derivatives can be adsorbed on the biochar surface. The Mn²⁺/B600/SP system also performed satisfactorily for a complex aqueous solution with various cations and antibiotics.

Optimal Design of Acoustic Metamaterial of Multiple Parallel Hexagonal Helmholtz Resonators by Combination of Finite Element Simulation and Cuckoo Search Algorithm

To achieve the broadband sound absorption at low frequencies within a limited space, an optimal design of joint simulation method incorporating the finite element simulation and cuckoo search algorithm was proposed. An acoustic metamaterial of multiple parallel hexagonal Helmholtz resonators with sub-wavelength dimensions was designed and optimized in this research. First, the initial geometric parameters of the investigated acoustic metamaterials were confirmed according to the actual noise reduction requirements to reduce the optimization burden and improve the optimization efficiency. Then, the acoustic metamaterial with the various depths of the necks was optimized by the joint simulation method, which combined the finite element simulation and the cuckoo search algorithm. The experimental sample was prepared using the 3D printer according to the obtained optimal parameters. The simulation results and experimental results exhibited excellent consistency. Compared with the derived sound absorption coefficients by theoretical modeling, those achieved in the finite element simulation were closer to the experimental results, which also verified the accuracy of this optimal design method. The results proved that the optimal design method was applicable to the achievement of broadband sound absorption with different low frequency ranges, which provided a novel method for the development and application of acoustic metamaterials.

Study on Increasing the Binding Amount of Rubber and Reinforcing Filler by Adding Aromatic Solvent Oil

The binding amount of rubber and reinforcing filler directly affects the quality of rubber products. The effect of aromatic solvent oil (S-150) on the binding amount of rubber and reinforcing filler was studied. In order to determine the suitability of rubber after adding S-150, the curing characteristics, physical performance and tensile properties of rubber samples were tested and analyzed. Meanwhile, the microstructure of the composite was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The test results showed that the binding amount of rubber and reinforcing filler was increased after adding S-150. The density and Shore A hardness were decreased. When carbon black was 80 phr, after adding 40 phr of S-150, the rebound resilience of rubber increased by 13% on average, and the elongation at break increased by 88% on average. When white carbon black was between 10-70 phr, after adding 65 phr of S-150, the rebound resilience of rubber increased by 9% on average, and the elongation at break increased by 51% on average. Modulus at 100% and tensile strength were decreased. Meanwhile, it could be judged from the microstructure results that the reticulation space inside the rubber was increased, the agglomerate particles were relatively uniform, and no bubbles or holes were observed. The mechanism that S-150 could increase the binding amount of rubber was analyzed according to the like-dissolves-like principle. This research achievement could lead to improvements in the quality of rubber products and promote their practical application.

Diversity of microbial community structure and their association with phthalic acid esters and physicochemical parameters in informal landfills

Informal landfill is a common waste treatment method employed in rural areas of China, and phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are one of the typical pollutants in landfill leachate. However, there is no corresponding theoretical basis for whether microbial treatment technology can be used to reduce environmental risk of PAEs in informal landfills. Thus, a typical informal landfill site in northern China was selected and approximately 1,133,023 effective sequences were obtained from 21 samples collected from three layers (different deposit depths) of the landfill. This research explored the correlation between PAEs and the composition and distribution of microbial community in specific environments of informal landfill sites. Here we found that dis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP) were positively and significantly correlated with Bhargavaea, Planococcus, Virgibacillus, and Oceanobacillus, respectively. The redundancy analysis demonstrated that moisture content, pH, NO2--N, and SUVA254 among the seven physicochemical factors (pH, TN, NO3--N,NO2--N,NH4+-N, SUVA254, and moisture content) significantly affected bacterial communities. The research conclusion can provide theoretical basis for the degradation technology of PAEs by microorganism and research basis for the treatment of informal landfill sites.

Development of a Drum Tower Severity Scoring (DTSS) system for pyrrolizidine alkaloid-induced hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There has been no reliable severity system based on the prognosis to guide therapeutic strategies for patients with pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA)-induced hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS). We aimed to create a novel Drum Tower Severity Scoring (DTSS) system for these patients to guide therapy.

METHODS

172 Patients with PA-HSOS who received supportive care and anticoagulation therapy in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2008 to December 2020 were enrolled and analyzed retrospectively. These patients were randomized into a training or validation set in a 3:1 ratio. Next, we established and validated the newly developed DTSS system.

RESULTS

Analysis identified a predictive formula: logit (P) = 0.004 × aspartate aminotransferase (AST, U/L) + 0.019 × total bilirubin (TB, μmol/L) - 0.571 × fibrinogen (FIB, g/L) - 0.093 × peak portal vein velocity (PVV, cm/s) + 1.122. Next, we quantified the above variables to establish the DTSS system. For the training set, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) (n = 127) was 0.787 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.706-0.868; p < 0.001]. With a lower cut-off value of 6.5, the sensitivity and negative predictive value for predicting no response to supportive care and anticoagulation therapy were 94.7% and 88.0%, respectively. When applying a high cut-off value of 10.5, the specificity was 92.9% and the positive predictive value was 78.3%. For the validation set, the system performed stable with an AUC of 0.808.

CONCLUSIONS

The DTSS system can predict the outcome of supportive care and anticoagulation in PA-HSOS patients with satisfactory accuracy by evaluating severity, and may have potential significance for guiding therapy.

Acoustic Metamaterials for Low-Frequency Noise Reduction Based on Parallel Connection of Multiple Spiral Chambers

Acoustic metamaterials based on Helmholtz resonance have perfect sound absorption characteristics with the subwavelength size, but the absorption bandwidth is narrow, which limits the practical applications for noise control with broadband. On the basis of the Fabry–Perot resonance principle, a novel sound absorber of the acoustic metamaterial by parallel connection of the multiple spiral chambers (abbreviated as MSC-AM) is proposed and investigated in this research. Through the theoretical modeling, finite element simulation, sample preparation and experimental validation, the effectiveness and practicability of the MSC-AM are verified. Actual sound absorption coefficients of the MSC-AM in the frequency range of 360–680 Hz (with the bandwidth Δf1 = 320 Hz) are larger than 0.8, which exhibit the extraordinarily low-frequency sound absorption performance. Moreover, actual sound absorption coefficients are above 0.5 in the 350–1600 Hz range (with a bandwidth Δf2 = 1250 Hz), which achieve broadband sound absorption in the low–middle frequency range. According to various actual demands, the structural parameters can be adjusted flexibly to realize the customization of sound absorption bandwidth, which provides a novel way to design and improve acoustic metamaterials to reduce the noise with various frequency bands and has promising prospects of application in low-frequency sound absorption.

Covered TIPS Procedure-Related Major Complications: Incidence, Management and Outcome From a Single Center

Background and Objective

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a well-established procedure for treating complications of portal hypertension. Due to the complexity of anatomy and difficulty of the puncture technique, the procedure itself might brought potential complications, such as puncture failure, bleeding, infection, and, rarely, death. The aim of this study is to explore the incidence, management, and outcome of TIPS procedure-related major complications using covered stents.

Methods

Patients who underwent TIPS implantation from January 2015 to December 2020 were recruited retrospectively. Major complications after TIPS were screened and analyzed.

Results

Nine hundred and forty-eight patients underwent the TIPS procedure with 95.1% (n = 902) technical success in our department. TIPS procedure-related major complications occurred in 30 (3.2%) patients, including hemobilia (n = 13; 1.37%), hemoperitoneum (n = 7; 0.74%), accelerated liver failure (n = 6; 0.63%), and rapidly progressive organ failure (n = 4; 0.42%). Among them, 8 patients died because of hemobilia (n = 1), accelerated liver failure (n = 4), and rapidly progressive organ failure (n = 3).

Conclusion

The incidence of major complications related to TIPS procedure is relatively low, and some of them could recover through effective medical intervention. In our cohort, the overall incidence is about 3%, which causes 0.84% death. The most fatal complication is organ failure and hemobilia.

Development and Optimization of Broadband Acoustic Metamaterial Absorber Based on Parallel-Connection Square Helmholtz Resonators

An acoustic metamaterial absorber of parallel-connection square Helmholtz resonators is proposed in this study, and its sound absorption coefficients are optimized to reduce the noise for the given conditions in the factory. A two-dimensional equivalent simulation model is built to obtain the initial value of parameters and a three-dimensional finite element model is constructed to simulate the sound absorption performance of the metamaterial cell, which aims to improve the research efficiency. The optimal parameters of metamaterial cells are obtained through the particle swarm optimization algorithm, and its effectiveness and accuracy are validated through preparing the experimental sample using 3D printing and measuring the sound absorption coefficient by the standing wave tube detection. The consistency between the experimental data and simulation data verifies feasibility of the proposed optimization method and usefulness of the developed acoustic metamaterial absorber, and the desired sound absorption performances for given conditions are achieved. The experimental results prove that parallel-connection square Helmholtz resonators can achieve an adjustable frequency spectrum for the low frequency noise control by parameter optimization, which is propitious to promote its application in reducing the noise in the factory.

α-Mangostin Treats Early-Stage Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis of Rat by Regulating the CAP-SIRT1 Pathway in Macrophages

Background

Studies have found that α-mangostin (MG) can relieve experimental arthritis by activating cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP). It affects the polarization of macrophages and the balance of related immune cell subpopulations, but the specific mechanism is still unclear. It has been found that silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) is closely related to macrophage activity. The purpose of this study is to explore the mechanism of MG intervening in macrophage polarization during treatment of early adjuvant-induced (AIA) rats through the CAP-SIRT1 pathway.

Methods

We investigated the polarization of M1 macrophages and the differentiation of Th1 in AIA rats by flow cytometry. Activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and the level of nicotinic adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in serum were also detected, and immunohistochemical was used to detect the levels of α7 nicotinic cholinergic receptor (α7nAChR) and SIRT1. Then in macrophages, the molecular mechanism of MG regulating the abnormal activation of macrophages in rats with early AIA through the CAP-SIRT1 pathway was studied.

Results

MG can significantly inhibit the polarization of M1 macrophages and the differentiation of Th1 in AIA rats in the acute phase of inflammation. MG can significantly inhibit the activity of AChE and increase the level of NAD+, thereby further up-regulated the expression levels of α7nAChR and SIRT1. Meanwhile, MG inhibited nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-mediated inflammation by activating the CAP-SIRT1 pathway in macrophages.

Conclusion

In summary, the stimulation of MG induced CAP activation, which up-regulated SIRT1 signal, and thereby inhibited M1 polarization through the NF-κB pathway, and improved the pathological immune environment of early-stage AIA rats.

Self-powered topological insulator Bi2Te3/Ge heterojunction photodetector driven by long-lived excitons transfer

Due to the wide spectral absorption and ultrafast electron dynamical response under optical excitation, topological insulator (TI) was proposed to have appealing application in next-generation photonic and optoelectronic devices. Whereas, the bandgap-free speciality of Dirac surface states usually leads to a quick relaxation of photoexcited carriers, making the transient excitons difficult to manipulate in isolated TIs. Growth of TI Bi₂Te₃/Ge heterostructures can promote the specific lifetime and quantity of long-lived excitons, offering the possibility of designing original near-infrared optoelectronic devices, however, the construction of TI Bi₂Te₃/Ge heterostructures has yet to be investigated. Herein, the high-quality Bi₂Te₃/Ge heterojunction with clear interface was prepared by physical vapor deposition strategy. A significant photoluminescence quenching behaviour was observed by experiments, which was attributed to the spontaneous excitation transfer of electrons at heterointerface via theoretical analysis. Then, a self-powered heterostructure photodetector was fabricated, which demonstrated a maximal detectivity of 1.3 × 10¹¹Jones, an optical responsivity of 0.97 A W^-1, and ultrafast photoresponse speed (12.1μs) under 1064 nm light illumination. This study offers a fundamental understanding of the spontaneous interfacial exciton transfer of TI-based heterostructures, and the as-fabricated photodetectors with excellent performance provided an important step to meet the increasing demand for novel optoelectronic applications in the future.

Dissociable oscillatory theta signatures of memory formation in the developing brain

Understanding complex human brain functions is critically informed by studying such functions during development. Here, we addressed a major gap in models of human memory by leveraging rare direct electrophysiological recordings from children and adolescents. Specifically, memory relies on interactions between the medial temporal lobe (MTL) and prefrontal cortex (PFC), and the maturation of these interactions is posited to play a key role in supporting memory development. To understand the nature of MTL-PFC interactions, we examined subdural recordings from MTL and PFC in 21 neurosurgical patients aged 5.9-20.5 years as they performed an established scene memory task. We determined signatures of memory formation by comparing the study of subsequently recognized to forgotten scenes in single trials. Results establish that MTL and PFC interact via two distinct theta mechanisms, an ∼3-Hz oscillation that supports amplitude coupling and slows down with age and an ∼7-Hz oscillation that supports phase coupling and speeds up with age. Slow and fast theta interactions immediately preceding scene onset further explained age-related differences in recognition performance. Last, with additional diffusion imaging data, we linked both functional mechanisms to the structural maturation of the cingulum tract. Our findings establish system-level dynamics of memory formation and suggest that MTL and PFC interact via increasingly dissociable mechanisms as memory improves across development.

Controllable synthesis of high-quality two-dimensional tellurium by a facile chemical vapor transport strategy

Recently, as an elementary material, tellurium (Te) has received widespread attention for its high carrier mobility, intriguing topological properties, and excellent environmental stability. However, it is difficult to obtain two-dimensional (2D) Te with high crystalline quality owing to its intrinsic helical chain structure. Herein, a facile strategy for controllable synthesis of high-quality 2D Te nanoflakes through chemical vapor transport in one step is reported. With carefully tuning the growth kinetics determined mainly by temperature, tellurium nanoflakes in lateral size of up to ∼40 μm with high crystallinity can be achieved. We also investigated the second harmonic generation of Te nanoflakes, which demonstrates that it can be used as frequency doubling crystals and has potential applications in nonlinear optical devices. In addition, field effect transistor devices based on the 2D Te nanoflakes were fabricated and exhibited excellent electrical properties with high mobility of 379 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹.

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High-quality 2D Te nanoflakes were directly synthesized by CVT method

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The growth mechanisms of 2D Te nanoflakes were systematically studied

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2D Te nanoflakes have potential applications in nonlinear optical devices

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2D Te nanoflakes-based FETs exhibit high mobility of ∼379 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹