Core-shell heterostructured Ni(OH)2@activation Zn-Co-Ni layered double hydroxides electrode for flexible all-solid-state coaxial fiber-shaped asymmetric supercapacitors

The increasing requirements for wearable and portable electronics are driving the interests of high performance fiber supercapacitor. Layered double hydroxide (LDH) is broadly used in electrode materials, owing to the adjustability of components and the unique lamellar structure. However, limited active sites and poor electrical conductivity hinder its applications. Herein, the core-shell heterostructured Ni(OH)2@activation Zn-Co-Ni layered double hydroxides (Ni(OH)2@A-ZnCoNi-LDH) electrode was fabricated by loading pseudocapacitance material on the A-ZnCoNi-LDH to improve the electrochemical performance. Significantly, benefits from the synergistic effect of the multi-metal ions and the core-shell heterostructure, the electrodes demonstrated a capacitance of 2405 mF·cm-2 at 1 mA·cm-2. Furthermore, Ni(OH)2@A-ZnCoNi-LDH was used as the core electrode and carbon nanotube (CNT) film coated with Fe2O3@reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was wrapped around the core electrode to assemble coaxial fiber asymmetric supercapacitor, which illustrated an ultrahigh energy density of 177.7 µWh·cm-2 at 0.75 mW·cm-2. In particular, after consecutive charging and discharging 7000 cycles, the capacitance retention of the device was 95 %, indicating the excellent cycling stability. Furthermore, the device with high flexibility can be woven into textiles in different shapes. The fabricated device has an excellent development prospect as an energy source in wearable electronic devices.

Construction of MoB@LDH heterojunction and its derivates through phase and interface engineering for advanced supercapacitor applications

Layered double hydroxide (LDH) has been attracted widespread attention in supercapacitor due to their unique layered structure and associated advantages. However, the inherent limitations of low electrical conductivity and reaction kinetics rate of LDH restrict its widespread application. Various modification techniques, such as heterojunction formation, phosphorization and introduction of phosphorus vacancies, are employed to modify LDH with the goal of improving the electrochemical performance. Preparation of composite materials using MoB MBene as conductive template and phosphorization are the effective ways for enhancing the electrical conductivity of electrode materials. MoB MBene is prepared using a modified method that combines NaOH etching and a high-temperature hydrothermal process. The presence of phosphorus vacancy is beneficial for enhancing the kinetics rate during electrode reactions. Through the synergistic effect of various modification methods, MP2 demonstrates an optimal electrochemical performance with a superior specific capacitance of 1731.19F/g (238.28 mAh g-1) at 1 A/g. It also demonstrates an impressive rate capacity of 81.28 % at 10 A/g and maintains a satisfactory capacitance retention of 88.14 % after 5000 cycles. In addition, a fabricated MP2//AC ASC device achieves an impressive energy density of 39.91 Wh kg-1 at the power density of 948.25 W kg-1 and demonstrates satisfactory cycling stability of 78.76 % after 5000 cycles. This work presents a comprehensive framework for analyzing the impact of material structure, components, and crystal phases on energy storage performance. It also examines the regulatory impact of different modification methods on energy storage mechanisms.

Evaluating the diagnostic and therapeutic significance of KL-6 in patients with interstitial lung diseases

Background

This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6), Surfactant protein-A (SP-A), SP-D and molecular matrixmetalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) in discriminating patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) from disease control subjects.

Methods

Serum levels of KL-6, SP-A, SP-D and MMP-7 were measured in both the ILD and non-ILD (NILD) groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic potential of these markers and laboratory indices. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) fibrosis scores were determined, and their correlation with the serum markers was analyzed.

Results

Serum levels of KL-6 and MMP-7 were significantly elevated in the ILD group compared to the control group, while no significant differences were observed for SP-A and SP-D. ROC analysis of KL-6 demonstrated superior diagnostic accuracy, with a sensitivity of 76.36%, specificity of 91.07%, and an area under curve (AUC) of 0.902 (95%CI 0.866-0.945). These findings were consistent across an additional cohort. Correlation analysis revealed a link between KL-6 levels at initial diagnosis and HRCT fibrosis scores, indicating disease severity. Moreover, a negative correlation was found between KL-6 and pulmonary function indices, reflecting disease progression. Patients with increased 12-month HRCT fibrosis score showed higher lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, with LDH exhibiting an AUC of 0.767 (95% CI: 0.520-0.927) as a predictor of progression.

Conclusions

Serum KL-6 detection proves to be a valuable tool for accurately distinguishing ILDs from control subjects. While KL-6 shows a correlation with HRCT fibrosis scores and a negative association with pulmonary function indices, its predictive value for ILDs prognosis is limited.

Trial registration

This study received retrospective approval from the Ethical Committee of Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China (institutional review board ID: TJ-IRB20210331, date: 2021.03.30).

LDHB contributes to the regulation of lactate levels and basal insulin secretion in human pancreatic β cells

Using 13C6 glucose labeling coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and 2D 1H-13C heteronuclear single quantum coherence NMR spectroscopy, we have obtained a comparative high-resolution map of glucose fate underpinning β cell function. In both mouse and human islets, the contribution of glucose to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle is similar. Pyruvate fueling of the TCA cycle is primarily mediated by the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase, with lower flux through pyruvate carboxylase. While the conversion of pyruvate to lactate by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) can be detected in islets of both species, lactate accumulation is 6-fold higher in human islets. Human islets express LDH, with low-moderate LDHA expression and β cell-specific LDHB expression. LDHB inhibition amplifies LDHA-dependent lactate generation in mouse and human β cells and increases basal insulin release. Lastly, cis-instrument Mendelian randomization shows that low LDHB expression levels correlate with elevated fasting insulin in humans. Thus, LDHB limits lactate generation in β cells to maintain appropriate insulin release.

Dupilumab in patients with atopic dermatitis: assessing treatment response, clinical features and potential biomarkers in real-life

Summary

Background. The clinical and pathophysiological heterogeneity of atopic dermatitis (AD) endophenotypes is associated with wide diversity in response to therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the response to dupilumab in a group of AD patients and identify clinical/immunological features associated with different patterns of response. Methods. A retrospective observational study was performed, including 30 adults with AD who completed 12 months treatment with dupilumab, in a Portuguese Immunoallergology Department. Demographic, clinical, and immunological data were analyzed, including total serum IgE, sensitization to aeroallergens, peripheral eosinophilia and inflammatory biomarkers (sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase-LDH). Patients who achieved EASI-75/EASI ≤ 7, SCORAD-75/SCORAD ≤ 24, NRS-pruritus ≤ 4 or DLQI≤5 at 6 months of treatment were considered responders and those that achieved all these goals at 16 weeks were considered super-responders. Results. Clinical evaluation revealed a significant reduction in median SCORAD, EASI, DLQI, NRS-pruritus and NRS-sleep over 12 months on dupilumab (p less than 0.01), in parallel with decrease in serum Th2 pathway biomarkers and LDH. All patients responded to dupilumab, and 26.7% were super-responders, supporting that dupilumab is highly effective in moderate to severe Th2-high AD. Conclusions. In this cohort, none of the evaluated biomarkers at baseline were associated with a better/earlier clinical response to dupilumab. Dupilumab treatment for 52 weeks resulted in a significant and sustained reduction in blood levels of total IgE and allergen-specific IgE to aeroallergens. The potential long-term clinical benefit of these effects, even after discontinuing dupilumab therapy in patients with AD, should be explored to a greater extent.

HIF-1-mediated regulation of LDH gene unravels key insights into MCDV-1 pathogenesis in mud crabs Scylla paramamosain

Hypoxia-inducible factors -1 (HIF-1) is a crucial transcription factor that regulates the expression of glycolytic genes. Our previous study proved that the Mud crab dicistrovirus-1 (MCDV-1) can induce aerobic glycolysis that favors viral replication in mud crab Scylla paramamosain. However, the role of HIF-1 on key glycolytic genes during the MCDV-1 infection has not been examined. In this study, the intricate interplay between HIF-1 and the key glycolysis enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), was investigated after MCDV-1 infection. The expression of LDH was significant increased after MCDV-1 infection. Additionally, the expression of HIF-1α was upregulated following MCDV-1 infection, potentially attributed to the downregulation of prolyl hydroxylase domains 2 expression. Subsequent examination of the SpLDH promoter identified the presence of hypoxia response elements (HREs), serving as binding sites for HIF-1α. Intriguingly, experimental evidence demonstrated that SpHIF-1α actively promotes SpLDH transcription through these HREs. To further elucidate the functional significance of SpHIF-1α, targeted silencing was employed, resulting in a substantial reduction in SpLDH expression, activity, and lactate concentrations in MCDV-1-infected mud crabs. Notably, SpHIF-1α-silenced mud crabs exhibited higher survival rates and lower viral loads in hepatopancreas tissues following MCDV-1 infection. These results highlight the critical role of SpHIF-1α in MCDV-1 pathogenesis by regulating LDH gene dynamics, providing valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the virus-host interaction.

Length and saturation of choline plasmalogens alter the aggregation rate of α-synuclein but not the toxicity of amyloid fibrils

Plasmalogens comprise a large fraction of the total phospholipids in plasma membranes. These molecules modulate membrane fluidity, produce inflammatory mediators mitigating effects of metabolic stresses. A growing body of evidence suggests that an onset of Parkinson's disease (PD), a severe neurodegenerative pathology, can be triggered by metabolic changes in plasma membranes. However, the role of plasmalogens in the aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn), an expected molecular cause of PD, remains unclear. In this study we examine the effect of choline plasmalogens (CPs), unique phospholipids that have a vinyl ether linkage at the sn-1 position of glycerol, on the aggregation rate of α-syn. We found that the length and saturation of fatty acids (FAs) in CPs change rates of protein aggregation. We also found drastic changes in the morphology of α-syn fibrils formed in the presence of different CPs compared to α-syn fibrils grown in the lipid-free environment. At the same time, we did not observe substantial changes in the secondary structure and toxicity of α-syn fibrils formed in the presence of different CPs. These results indicate that the length and saturation of FAs in CPs present in the plasma membrane can alter α-syn stability and modulate its aggregation properties, which, in turn can accelerate or delay the onset of PD.

Effect of MSX1 on the cellular function of cardiomyocytes

MSX1 (Muscle Segment Homeobox 1) has pleiotropic effects in various tissues, including cardiomyocytes, while the effect of MSX1 on cardiomyocyte cellular function was not well known. In this study, we used AC16 cell culture, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR), protein blotting (Western blot), flow cytometry apoptosis assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbnent Assay) to investigate the effect of the MSX1 gene on cardiomyocyte function. The results showed that MSX1 plays a protective role against hypoxia of cardiomyocytes. However, further studies are required to fully understand the role of MSX1 in the regulation of LDH expression in different cell types and under different conditions.

Hemolysis Index Correlations with Plasma-Free Hemoglobin and Plasma Lactate Dehydrogenase in Critically Ill Patients under Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation or Mechanical Circulatory Support-A Single-Center Study

Monitoring for thrombosis and hemolysis is crucial for patients under extracorporeal or mechanical circulatory support, but it can be costly. We investigated correlations between hemolysis index (HI) and plasma-free hemoglobin (PFH) levels on one hand, and between the HI and plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels on the other, in critically ill patients with and without extracorporeal or mechanical circulatory support. Additionally, we calculated the cost reductions if monitoring through HI were to replace monitoring through PFH or plasma LDH. In a single-center study, HI was compared with PFH and plasma LDH levels in blood samples taken for routine purposes in critically ill patients with and without extracorporeal or mechanical circulatory support. A cost analysis, restricted to direct costs associated with each measurement, was made for an average 10-bed ICU. This study included 147 patients: 56 patients with extracorporeal or mechanical circulatory support (450 measurements) and 91 patients without extracorporeal or mechanical circulatory support (562 measurements). The HI correlated well with PFH levels (r = 0.96; p < 0.01) and poorly with plasma LDH levels (r = 0.07; p < 0.01) in patients with extracorporeal or mechanical circulatory support. Similarly, HI correlated well with PFH levels (r = 0.97; p < 0.01) and poorly with plasma LDH levels (r = -0.04; p = 0.39) in patients without extracorporeal or mechanical circulatory support. ROC analyses demonstrated a strong performance of HI, with the curve indicating excellent discrimination in the whole cohort (area under the ROC of 0.969) as well as in patients under ECMO or mechanical circulatory support (area under the ROC of 0.988). Although the negative predictive value of HI for predicting PFH levels > 10 mg/dL was high, its positive predictive value was found to be poor at various cutoffs. A simple cost analysis showed substantial cost reduction if HI were to replace PFH or plasma LDH for hemolysis monitoring. In conclusion, in this cohort of critically ill patients with and without extracorporeal or mechanical circulatory support, HI correlated well with PFH levels, but poorly with plasma LDH levels. Given the high correlation and substantial cost reductions, a strategy utilizing HI may be preferable for monitoring for hemolysis compared to monitoring strategies based on PFH or plasma LDH. The PPV of HI, however, is unacceptably low to be used as a diagnostic test.

Association of interleukin-6, ferritin, and lactate dehydrogenase with venous thromboembolism in COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is frequntly accompanied by venous thromboembolism (VTE), and its mechanism may be related to the abnormal inflammation and immune status of COVID-19 patients. It has been proved that interleukin-6 (IL-6), ferritin and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) may play an important role in the occurrence of VTE in COVID-19 infection. But whether they can server as predictors for VTE in COVID-19 is still unclear. In this study, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare IL-6, ferritin and LDH in VTE and non-VTE COVID-19 patients in order to shed light on the prevention and treatment of VTE.

METHODS

Related literatures were searched in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WANGFANG. COVID-19 patients were divided into VTE group and non-VTE group. Meta-analysis was then conducted to compare levels of IL-6, ferritin and LDH between the two groups.

RESULTS

We finally included and analyzed 17 literatures from January 2019 to October 2022. There was a total of 7,035 COVID-19 patients, with a weighted mean age of 60.01 years. Males accounted for 62.64% and 61.34% patients were in intensive care unit (ICU). Weighted mean difference (WMD) of IL-6, ferritin and LDH was 31.15 (95% CI: 9.82, 52.49), 257.02 (95% CI: 51.70, 462.33) and 41.79 (95% CI: -19.38, 102.96), respectively. The above results indicated that than compared with non-VTE group, VTE group had significantly higher levels of IL-6 and ferritin but similar LDH.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review and meta-analysis pointed out that elevated levels of IL-6 and ferritin were significantly possitive associated with VTE, thus could be used as biological predictive indicators of VTE among COVID-19 patients. However, no association was found between level of LDH and VTE. Therefore, close monitoring of changes in IL-6 and ferritin concentrations is of great value in assisting clinicans to rapidly identify thrombotic complications among COVID-19 patients, hence facilitating the timely effective managment. Further studies are required in terms of the clinical role of cytokines in the occurrence of VTE among COVID-19 infection, with more reliable systematic controls and interventional trials.

Large Unilamellar Vesicles of Phosphatidic Acid Reduce the Toxicity of α-Synuclein Fibrils

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a severe pathology that is caused by a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta as well as other areas in the brain. These neurodegeneration processes are linked to the abrupt aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn), a small protein that is abundant at presynaptic nerve termini, where it regulates cell vesicle trafficking. Due to the direct interactions of α-syn with cell membranes, a substantial amount of work was done over the past decade to understand the role of lipids in α-syn aggregation. However, the role of phosphatidic acid (PA), a negatively charged phospholipid with a small polar head, remains unclear. In this study, we examined the effect of PA large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) on α-syn aggregation. We found that PA LUVs with 16:0, 18:0, and 18:1 FAs drastically reduced the toxicity of α-syn fibrils if were present in a 1:1 molar ratio with the protein. Our results also showed that the presence of these vehicles changed the rate of α-syn aggregation and altered the morphology and secondary structure of α-syn fibrils. These results indicate that PA LUVs can be used as a potential therapeutic strategy to reduce the toxicity of α-syn fibrils formed upon PD.

Secondary structure and toxicity of lysozyme fibrils are determined by the length and unsaturation of phosphatidic acid

A progressive aggregation of misfolded proteins is a hallmark of numerous pathologies including diabetes Type 2, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. As a result, highly toxic protein aggregates, which are known as amyloid fibrils, are formed. A growing body of evidence suggests that phospholipids can uniquely alter the secondary structure and toxicity of amyloid aggregates. However, the role of phosphatidic acid (PA), a unique lipid that is responsible for cell signaling and activation of lipid-gated ion channels, in the aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins remains unclear. In this study, we investigate the role of the length and degree of unsaturation of fatty acids (FAs) in PA in the structure and toxicity of lysozyme fibrils formed in the presence of this lipid. We found that both the length and saturation of FAs in PA uniquely altered the secondary structure of lysozyme fibrils. However, these structural differences in PA caused very little if any changes in the morphology of lysozyme fibrils. We also utilized cell toxicity assays to determine the extent to which the length and degree of unsaturation of FAs in PA altered the toxicity of lysozyme fibrils. We found that amyloid fibrils formed in the presence of PA with C18:0 FAs exerted significantly higher cell toxicity compared to the aggregates formed in the presence of PA with C16:0 and C18:1 FAs. These results demonstrated that PA can be an important player in the onset and spread of amyloidogenic diseases.

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as efficient and safe carriers for miRNA inhibitors: In vitro and in vivo assessment of biocompatibility

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been employed as nano-sized carriers for therapeutic/bio-active molecules, including small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). However, the potential of LDHs nanoparticles for an efficient and safe antisense oligonucleotide (AMO) delivery still requires studies. In this research, we have tested the suitability of a Mg-Al-LDH-based nanocarrier loaded with a miRNA-196b-5p inhibitor. LDHs (and LDH-Oligo complex) were synthesized by the coprecipitation method followed by physicochemical characterization as hydrodynamic size, surface charge, crystallinity, and chemical groups. Thymic endothelial cell line (tEnd.1) were transfected with LDH-Oligo and were evaluated for i. cell viability by MTT, trypan blue, and propidium iodide assays; ii. transfection efficiency by flow cytometry, and iii. depletion of miRNA-196b-5p by RT-qPCR. In addition, Drosophila melanogaster larvae were fed LDHs and evaluated for: i. larval motility; ii. pupation rate; iii. larval-pupal transition; iv. lethality, and v. emergence rate. We demonstrated that LDHs nanoparticles are stable in aqueous solutions and exhibit a regular hexagonal shape. The LDH-AMO complex showed a transfection efficiency of 93.95 ± 2.15 % and induced a significant depletion of miRNA-196b-5p 48h after transfection. No cytotoxic effects were detected in tEnd.1 cells at concentrations up to 50 μg/ml, as well as in Drosophila exposed up to 500 μg of LDH. In conclusion, our data suggest that LDHs are biocompatible and efficient carriers for miRNA inhibitors and can be used as a viable and effective tool in functional miRNA inhibition assays.

Clinical characteristics and influencing factors of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome complicated by viral myocarditis: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome complicated by viral myocarditis (SFTS-VM) and analyze relevant influencing factors.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 79 SFTS-VM patients, categorized into common (SFTS-CVM, n = 40) and severe groups (SFTS-SVM, n = 39). Clinical manifestations, laboratory results, cardiac ultrasonography, and electrocardiogram features were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified significant indicators, which were further assessed using ROC curves to predict SFTS-SVM.

RESULTS

SFTS-SVM group exhibited higher rates of hypotension, shock, abdominal pain, cough with sputum, and consciousness disorders compared to SFTS-CVM group. Laboratory findings showed elevated platelet count, ALT, AST, amylase, lipase, LDH, D-dimer, procalcitonin, TNI, and NT-proBNP in SFTS-SVM. Abnormal electrocardiograms, especially atrial fibrillation, were more prevalent in SFTS-SVM (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified elevated LDH upon admission (OR = 1.004, 95% CI: 1-1.008, P = 0.050), elevated NT-proBNP (OR = 1.005, 95% CI: 1.001-1.008, P = 0.007), and consciousness disorders (OR = 112.852, 95% CI: 3.676 ~ 3464.292, P = 0.007) as independent risk factors for SFTS-SVM. LDH and NT-proBNP had AUCs of 0.728 and 0.744, respectively, in predicting SFTS-SVM. Critical values of LDH (> 978.5U/L) and NT-proBNP (> 857.5pg/ml)) indicated increased likelihood of SFTS progression into SVM.

CONCLUSION

Elevated LDH, NT-proBNP, and consciousness disorders independently correlate with SFTS-SVM. LDH and NT-proBNP can aid in early identification of SFTS-SVM development when above specified thresholds.

Synergistic effect and mechanism of nZVI/LDH composites adsorption coupled reduction of nitrate in micro-polluted water

In this study, nZVI/LDH composites were prepared by loading nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) on layered double hydroxide (LDH) surface for adsorption coupled reduction of nitrate (NO3--N). The results showed that the removal of NO3--N and total nitrogen (TN) by the nZVI/LDH composites was 88.64% and 77.63%, respectively, with a selectivity of 55.21% for N2 and only 1.86% for ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) within 180 min. The valence states of various N forms during the adsorption-reduction process were investigated. The mechanism of synergistic adsorption-reduction degradation of NO3--N was proposed by measuring the contents of NO3--N, nitrite (NO2--N), and NH4+-N in the aqueous and adsorbed phases in the reaction process, including rapid adsorption of initial NO3--N, chemical reduction of adsorbed NO3--N and resorption of the final product. The nZVI/LDH also maintained up to 82.56% NO3--N removal in natural water, with aging experiments proved that the composites maintained 60.48% NO3--N removal after 15 days. Therefore, the composites may have great application prospects for NO3--N removal in micro-polluted water.

The ability of biomarkers to assess the severity of atopic dermatitis

Background

To develop precision medicine for atopic dermatitis (AD), it is critical to establish relevant biomarkers. However, the characteristics of various biomarkers have not been fully understood. We previously carried out the Biomarkers to Predict Clinical Improvement of AD in Patients Treated with Dupilumab (B-PAD) study, a comprehensive nationwide study in Japan, to explore biomarkers for AD.

Objective

The aim of this study is to find biomarkers associated with objective and subjective clinical findings in patients with moderate-to-severe AD based on the B-PAD study and to identify biomarkers sensitive enough to assess the severity of AD.

Methods

We performed the B-PAD study as a consortium composed of 19 medical facilities in Japan, enrolling 110 patients with moderate-to-severe AD. We evaluated the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) for objective assessment as well as the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) and a numeric rating scale for pruritus (pruritis-NRS) for subjective assessment, measuring 19 biomarkers at baseline.

Results

We found that 12, 6, and 7 biomarkers showed significant and positive associations with the EASI, POEM, and pruritis-NRS, respectively. Most of the biomarkers associated with either the POEM or the pruritis-NRS were included among the biomarkers associated with EASI. Of the biomarkers examined, CCL26/eotaxin-3 and SCCA2 were the most capable of assessing severity for EASI, as shown by the 2 kinds of receiver operating characteristic analyses, respectively, whereas lactate dehydrogenase was the best for both the POEM and pruritis-NRS, again using the 2 analyses.

Conclusion

We found biomarkers associated with the EASI, POEM, and pruritis-NRS, respectively, based on the B-PAD study. Moreover, we identified CCL26/eotaxin-3 and/or SCCA2 as the biomarkers having the greatest ability to assess severity in the EASI; lactate dehydrogenase did the same for the POEM and pruritis-NRS. These findings will be useful in treating patients with moderate-to-severe AD.

Layered Double Hydroxide Nanosheets: Synthesis Strategies and Applications in the Field of Energy Conversion

In recent years, layered double hydroxides (LDH) nanosheets have garnered substantial attention as intriguing inorganic anionic layered clay materials. These nanosheets have captured the attention of researchers due to their unique physicochemical properties. This review aims to showcase the latest advancements in laboratory research concerning LDH nanosheets, with a specific emphasis on their methods of preparation. This review provides detailed insights into the factors influencing the anionic conductivity of LDH, along with delineating the applications of LDH nanosheets in the realm of energy conversion. Notably, the review highlights the crucial role of LDH nanosheets in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a vital process in water splitting and diverse electrochemical applications. The review emphasizes the significant potential of LDH nanosheets in enhancing supercapacitor technology, owing to their high surface area and exceptional charge storage capacity. Additionally, it elucidates the prospective application of LDH nanosheets as anion exchange membranes in anion exchange membrane fuel cells, potentially revolutionizing fuel cell performance through improved efficiency and stability facilitated by enhanced ion transport properties.

Secondary structure and toxicity of transthyretin fibrils can be altered by unsaturated fatty acids

Transthyretin amyloidosis is a severe pathology characterized by the progressive accumulation of transthyretin (TTR) in various organs and tissues. This highly conserved through vertebrate evolution protein transports thyroid hormone thyroxine. In our bodies, TTR can interact with a large number of molecules, including ω-3 and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that are broadly used as food supplies. In this study, we investigated the effect of ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs, as well as their fully saturated analog, on TTR aggregation. Our results showed that both ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs strongly decreased the rate of TTR aggregation. We also found that in the presence of PUFAs, TTR formed morphologically different fibrils compared to the lipid-free environment. Nano-Infrared imaging revealed that these fibrils had drastically different secondary structures compared to the secondary structure of TTR aggregates formed in the PUFAs-free environment. Furthermore, TTR fibrils formed in the presence of ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs exerted significantly lower cell toxicity compared to the fibrils formed in the absence of fatty acids.

Rational synthesis of FeNiCo-LDH nanozyme for colorimetric detection of deferoxamine mesylate

The accurate surveillance and sensitive detection of deferoxamine mesylate (DFO) is of great significance to ensure the safety of thalassemia major patients. Herein, we report a new nanozyme-based colorimetric sensor platform for DFO detection. First, a metal-organic framework (ZIF-67) was used as a precursor for the synthesis of FeNiCo-LDH (Layered Double Hydroxide, LDH) via an ion exchange reaction stirring at room temperature. The results of electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption-desorption showed that FeNiCo-LDH exhibited a 3D hollow and mesopores structure, which supplied more exposed active sites and faster transfer of mass. The as-prepared FeNiCo-LDH showed superior peroxidase-like activity with a low Km and high υmax. It can catalyze the decomposition of H2O2 to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and further react with 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to form blue oxidized TMB (oxTMB), which has a characteristic absorption at 652 nm. Once DFO was introduced, it can complex with FeNiCo-LDH and inhibit the peroxidase-like activity of FeNiCo-LDH, making the color of oxTMB lighter. The quantitative range of DFO was 0.8-28 μM with a detection limit of 0.71 μM. This established method was applied to the detection of DFO content in urine samples of thalassemia patients, and the spiked recoveries were falling between 97.7% and 109.6%, with a relative standard deviation was less than 5%, providing a promising tool for the clinical medication of thalassemia patients.

Metformin ameliorates ferroptosis in cardiac ischemia and reperfusion by reducing NOX4 expression via promoting AMPKα

CONTEXT

Metformin (Met) has a protective effect against cardiac ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury.

OBJECTIVE

This study uncovered the Met effect on ferroptosis in cardiac I/R.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats underwent cardiac I/R treatment (ischaemia 30 min; reperfusion 24 h) (I/R group), and administered intravenously with Met (200 mg/kg) (I/R + Met group). Haematoxylin-eosin staining, Prussian blue staining, immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscope were conducted on cardiac tissues. H9c2 cells underwent oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R group) and treated by Met (0.1 mM) (OGD/R + Met group). Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα) siRNA was transfected into OGD/R-induced H9c2 cells. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) and JC-1 staining were conducted on H9c2 cells. Ferroptosis-related indicators and gene expression were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot.

RESULTS

In cardiac I/R rat, Met decreased heart and serum MDA, cardiac and serum non-heme iron, and serum CK-MB and LDH (inhibition rate: 50.0%, 48.8%, 47.6%, 29.5%, 30.6% and 34.7%, respectively), relieved cardiac tissue ferroptosis and mitochondria damage, increased fraction shortening and ejection fraction (157.5% and 146.2% on day 28, respectively), up-regulated AMPKα and down-regulated NOX4 in cardiac tissues. In OGD/R-induced H9c2 cells, Met (0.1 mM) increased cell viability (promotion rate: 170.0%), decreased non-heme iron and MDA (inhibition rate: 30.1% and 47.9%, respectively), relieved ferroptosis, up-regulated AMPKα and down-regulated NOX4. AMPKα silencing abrogated these effects of Met on the OGD/R-induced H9c2 cells.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Met shows effectiveness in relieving ferroptosis in cardiac I/R. In the future, Met may be an effective drug for relieving ferroptosis in cardiac I/R patients clinically.

The effect of quercetin supplementation on clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) affects both the respiratory system and the body as a whole. Natural molecules, such as flavonoid quercetin, as potential treatment methods to help patients combat COVID-19. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to give a comprehensive overview of the impact of quercetin supplementation on inflammatory factors, hospital admission, and mortality of patients with COVID-19. The search has been conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library using relevant keywords until August 25, 2023. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing COVID-19 patients who received quercetin supplementation versus controls. We included five studies summarizing the evidence in 544 patients. Meta-analysis showed that quercetin administration significantly reduced LDH activity (standard mean difference (SMD): -0.42, 95% CI: -0.82, -0.02, I 2 = 48.86%), decreased the risk of hospital admission by 70% (RR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.62, I 2 = 00.00%), ICU admission by 73% (RR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.78, I 2 = 20.66%), and mortality by 82% (RR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.98, I 2 = 00.00%). No significant changes in CRP, D-dimmer, and ferritin were found between groups. Quercetin was found to significantly reduce LDH levels and decrease the risk of hospital and ICU admission and mortality in patients with COVID-19 infection.

Nanoscale structural characterization of transthyretin aggregates formed at different time points of protein aggregation using atomic force microscopy-infrared spectroscopy

Transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis is a progressive disease characterized by an abrupt aggregation of misfolded protein in multiple organs and tissues TTR is a tetrameric protein expressed in the liver and choroid plexus. Protein misfolding triggers monomerization of TTR tetramers. Next, monomers assemble forming oligomers and fibrils. Although the secondary structure of TTR fibrils is well understood, there is very little if anything is known about the structural organization of TTR oligomers. To end this, we used nano-infrared spectroscopy, also known as atomic force microscopy infrared (AFM-IR) spectroscopy. This emerging technique can be used to determine the secondary structure of individual amyloid oligomers and fibrils. Using AFM-IR, we examined the secondary structure of TTR oligomers formed at the early (3-6 h), middle (9-12 h), and late (28 h) of protein aggregation. We found that aggregating, TTR formed oligomers (Type 1) that were dominated by α-helix (40%) and β-sheet (~30%) together with unordered protein (30%). Our results showed that fibril formation was triggered by another type of TTR oligomers (Type 2) that appeared at 9 h. These new oligomers were primarily composed of parallel β-sheet (55%), with a small amount of antiparallel β-sheet, α-helix, and unordered protein. We also found that Type 1 oligomers were not toxic to cells, whereas TTR fibrils formed at the late stages of protein aggregation were highly cytotoxic. These results show the complexity of protein aggregation and highlight the drastic difference in the protein oligomers that can be formed during such processes.

Mouse N2a Neuroblastoma Assay: Uncertainties and Comparison with Alternative Cell-Based Assays for Ciguatoxin Detection

The growing concern about ciguatera fish poisoning (CF) due to the expansion of the microorganisms producing ciguatoxins (CTXs) increased the need to develop a reliable and fast method for ciguatoxin detection to guarantee food safety. Cytotoxicity assay on the N2a cells sensitized with ouabain (O) and veratridine (V) is routinely used in ciguatoxin detection; however, this method has not been standardized yet. This study demonstrated the low availability of sodium channels in the N2a cells, the great O/V damage to the cells and the cell detachment when the cell viability is evaluated by the classical cytotoxicity assay and confirmed the absence of toxic effects caused by CTXs alone when using the methods that do not require medium removal such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and Alamar blue assays. Different cell lines were evaluated as alternatives, such as human neuroblastoma, which was not suitable for the CTX detection due to the greater sensitivity to O/V and low availability of sodium channels. However, the HEK293 Nav cell line expressing the α1.6 subunit of sodium channels was sensitive to the ciguatoxin without the sensitization with O/V due to its expression of sodium channels. In the case of sensitizing the cells with O/V, it was possible to detect the presence of the ciguatoxin by the classical cytotoxicity MTT method at concentrations as low as 0.0001 nM CTX3C, providing an alternative cell line for the detection of compounds that act on the sodium channels.

[The lactate dehydrogenase to lymphocyte ratio in evaluating the prognosis of patients with severe COVID-19]

Inflammatory biological parameters are altered in patients with COVID-19 depending on its severity. The objective of our study is to find a score to assess the prognosis of patients with severe COVID-19. This is a retrospective study of patients with severe COVID-19 hospitalized in the intensive care units of Ibn Sina Hospital in Rabat. The study involves a total of 197 patients. The biological parameters were collected and evaluated in order to recognize the factors of poor prognosis of severe COVID-19. In our cohort, 133 patients died (67.51%) and had a higher average age (p < 0.001). A statistically significant correlation was found in this group of patients for procalcitonin (p = 0.005), lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.02) and ferritin (p = 0.017). The lactate dehydrogenase/lymphocyte ratio (LLR) had the highest accuracy among the calculated combined scores. The LLR AUC was 0.628 (95% CI: 0.549-0.708) and the optimal cut-off value was 341, which gave a sensitivity of 91 % and a specificity of 84 %. The LLR is a good predictor of the poor prognosis of patients with severe COVID-19.

Differentiating thymic epithelial tumors from mediastinal lymphomas: preoperative nomograms based on PET/CT radiomic features to minimize unnecessary anterior mediastinal surgery

PURPOSE

Clinical feasibility nomograms were developed to facilitate the differentiation between thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) and mediastinal lymphomas (MLs), aiming to minimize the occurrence of non-therapeutic thymectomy.

METHODS

A total of 255 patients diagnosed with TETs or MLs underwent pre-treatment 18F-FDG PET/CT. Comprehensive clinical and imaging data were collected, including age, gender, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, pathological results, presence of myasthenia gravis symptoms, B symptoms, mass size, location, morphology, margins, density, and metabolic parameters derived from PET/CT. Radiomic features were extracted from the region of interest (ROI) of the primary lesion. Feature selection techniques were employed to identify the most discriminative subset of features. Machine learning methods were utilized to build candidate models, which were subsequently evaluated based on their area under the curve (AUC). Finally, nomograms were constructed using the optimal model to provide a clinical tool for improved diagnostic accuracy. The performance of the radiomic models was evaluated by their calibration, discrimination, and clinical utility.

RESULTS

Several independent risk factors were identified for distinguishing TETs from MLs, including average standardized uptake value (SUVavg), LDH, age, mass size, and radiomic score (rad-score). Significance was observed in differentiating the two types of tumors based on these factors. The best clinical efficacy was demonstrated by the combined model, with an impressive AUC of 0.954. Decision curve analysis and calibration curves indicated that the combined model was clinically advantageous for discriminating TETs from MLs. Besides, the results of external validation showed a sensitivity of 0.8 and a specificity of 0.78.

CONCLUSION

Preoperatively, the differentiation of TETs from MLs can be facilitated by the utilization of the combined clinical information and radiomics model. This approach holds promise in minimizing the occurrence of unnecessary anterior mediastinal surgeries.

Implications of LDH in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia

Objective

The objective of this study was to explore the value of serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in the early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of pneumonia associated with the novel coronavirus infection.

Methods

A total of 101 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia were included in the study. According to the severity of the initial chest computed tomography (CT), the patients were divided into the ordinary pneumonia group and the severe pneumonia group and then divided into the remission group and the nonremission group according to the changes of the chest CT after medication treatment. The differences in general characteristics, underlying diseases, clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and imaging examination outcomes between groups were observed retrospectively. To analyze the diagnostic performance of LDH, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated.

Results

Compared with ordinary pneumonia patients, patients in the severe group presented with significantly higher LDH, neutrophil count, high-sensitivity troponin T (HS-TnT), C-reactive protein (CRP), human serum amyloid A (SAA), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP), and D-dimer. Compared with remission patients, non-remission patients presented with significantly higher LDH, neutrophil count, HS-TnT, CRP, SAA, procalcitonin (PCT), creatine kinase-MB mass (CKMB_M), NTproBNP, and D-dimer. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that LDH [odds ratio (OR), 1.015; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.006-1024; p = 0.001] and neutrophil count (OR, 1.352; 95% CI, 1.008-1.811; p = 0.044) were independently associated with exacerbation in COVID-19 patients. For ROC analysis, the AUC was 0.833 (95% CI, 0.729-0.936; p < 0.001) when we use the LDH value of 256.69 U/L to discriminate the ordinary pneumonia and severe pneumonia patients. The AUC was 0.759 (95% CI, 0.603-0.914; p = 0.008) and the sensitivity is 92.3% when we combined the LDH (cutoff value 258.46 U/L) and the neutrophil count (cutoff value 6.76 × 109/L) to discriminate remission and non-remission patients.

Conclusion

The level of LDH is associated with the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia and can be used as important indicators to evaluate the prognosis of patients.

The role of diabetes in metastatic melanoma patients treated with nivolumab plus relatlimab

BACKGROUND

The combination of nivolumab + relatlimab is superior to nivolumab alone in the treatment of naive patients and has activity in PD-1 refractory melanoma. We had previously observed a reduced expression of LAG3 in melanoma tissue from patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHOD

To evaluate the impact of diabetes on oncological outcomes of patients with advanced melanoma treated with nivolumab plus the LAG3 inhibitor relatlimab we performed a retrospective multicenter study.

RESULTS

Overall, 129 patients were included: 88 without diabetes before the treatment, 37 who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before the start of treatment, and 4 without diabetes before treatment who developed immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced diabetes (ICI-DM). PFS was 21.71 months (95% CI: 15.61-27.81) in patients without diabetes, 10.23 months (95% CI: 5.81-14.66) in patients with type 2 diabetes, and 50.85 months (95% CI: 23.04-78.65) in patients who developed ICI-DM. OS was 37.94 months (95% CI: 31.02-44.85) in patients without diabetes, 22.12 months (95% CI: 14.41-29.85) in those with type 2 diabetes and 57.64 months (95% CI: 42.29-72.99) in those who developed ICI-DM. Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of diabetes and LDH was correlated with OS and PFS. The mean OS was 64.63 months in subjects with low levels of glucose (< 137 mg/dl) and 36.27 months in those with high levels (hazard ratio 0.16, 95% CI: 0.04-0.58; p = 0.005). The patients whose glucose blood level increased after 3 months of treatment with nivolumab + relatinib compared to baseline (ratio of blood level at baseline/after 3 months > 1.5) had a worse prognosis than those whose glucose level had not increased. This result was observed also in subgroups treated either in first line or further lines. Patients who developed ICI-DM during the study period had better outcomes than the overall population and patients without diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

LAG3 inhibition for treating metastatic or unresectable melanoma has a reduced efficacy in patients with type 2 diabetes, possibly due to a low expression of LAG3 in tumor tissue. Higher level evidence should be obtained.

Welcome to the next generation of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests: Comparative Analysis of NxTek Eliminate Malaria P.f, Biocredit Malaria Ag Pf, and SD Bioline Malaria Ag Pf for Plasmodium falciparum Diagnosis in Ghana

Background

Accurate diagnosis and timely treatment are crucial in combating malaria.

Methods

We evaluated the diagnostic performance of three Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) in diagnosing febrile patients, namely: Abbott NxTek Eliminate Malaria Ag Pf (detecting HRP2), Rapigen Biocredit Malaria Ag Pf (detecting HRP2 and LDH on separate bands), and SD Bioline Malaria Ag Pf (detecting HRP2). Results were compared to qPCR.

Results

Among 449 clinical patients, 45.7% (205/449) tested positive by qPCR for P. falciparum with a mean parasite density of 12.5parasites/μL. The sensitivity of the Biocredit RDT was 52.2% (107/205), NxTek RDT was 49.3% (101/205), and Bioline RDT was 40.5% (83/205). When samples with parasite densities lower than 20 parasites/uL were excluded (n=116), a sensitivity of 88.8% (79/89, NxTek), 89.9% (80/89, Biocredit), and 78.7% (70/89, Bioline) was obtained. All three RDTs demonstrated specificity above 95%. The limits of detection was 84 parasites/μL (NxTek), 56 parasites/μL (Biocredit, considering either HRP2 or LDH), and 331 parasites/μL (Bioline). None of the three qPCR-confirmed P. falciparum positive samples, identified solely through the LDH target, carried hrp2/3 deletions.

Conclusion

The Biocredit and NxTek RDTs demonstrated comparable diagnostic efficacies and both RDTs performed better than Bioline RDT.

Effect of Graphene Oxide-Modified CaAl-Layered Double Hydroxides on the Carbon Dioxide Permeation Properties of Fluoroelastomers

This work aimed to investigate the CO2 gas barrier and mechanical properties of fluorine rubber nanocomposites filled with Ca/Al layered hydroxide (graphene oxide [GO]/LDH-Ca2Al) modified by GO. GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomposite fillers were prepared by depositing Ca/Al layered hydroxide (LDH-Ca2Al) into the surface of alkalized GO (Al-GO). The prepared GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomposite fillers and complexes were characterized by Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for structural and micromorphological characterization. The results showed that GO/LDH-Ca2Al was successfully prepared with strong interactions between Al-GO and LDH, and the compatibility of GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomposite fillers with the polymer was significantly improved compared with that of LDH-Ca2Al. Consequently, both the fracture strength (σb) and strain (εb) of GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomplexes remarkably increased, and they exhibited excellent mechanical properties. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the thermal stability of GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomposite fillers, and GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomposite fillers have better thermal stability than LDH-Ca2Al. The reaction products (S-LDH-Ca2Al and S-GO-Ca2Al) of LDH-Ca2Al and GO/LDH-Ca2Al with CO2 were characterized using XRD and TGA, respectively, and the results show that LDH-Ca2Al reacts readily and chemically with CO2, resulting in a lower diffusion coefficient of CO2 in the LDH-Ca2Al nanocomplexes than that of the GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomplexes and leading to the destruction of the laminar structure of LDH-Ca2Al, while GO/LDH-Ca2Al has better CO2 resistance stability. GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomplexes exhibited a reduced content of hydroxyl groups with pro-CO2 nature exposed on the surface of LDH-Ca2Al, improving the interfacial interaction between the nanofillers and the rubber matrix and enhancing the dispersion of GO/LDH-Ca2Al in the polymers. Moreover, CO2 in the soluble GO/LDH-Ca2Al nanocomposites was significantly reduced, while the diffusion properties demonstrated weak temperature dependence on solubility. The mechanism of the CO2 gas barrier of polymers filled with GO/LDH-Ca2Al was proposed on the basis of the Arrhenius equation.

Can Blood Biomarkers Be Used to Assess Oxidative Stress in COPD Patients After Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Purpose

To determine the level of oxidative stress in the body due to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) with thiols and disulfide and to investigate their relationship with indirect markers such as creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase - MB (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which show cell destruction.

Patients and Methods

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are included in inpatient and outpatient care. They were evaluated before and after for PR, and an exercise program was prescribed. In addition, native thiol (NT), total thiol (TT), disulfide (DS), LDH, CK, and CK-MB values were tested.

Results

The mean age of 21 patients was 63±7.31 years. Eleven of them were outpatients and 10 of them were inpatients. Most of the patients were male (M/F=20/1, 95.2/4.8%). There was a significant difference in pulmonary function tests (PFT), St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and 1 repetition maximum (1RM) before and after the treatment (p<0.001). There was a correlation between PFT and 1RM upper extremity. While there was no significant difference between thiols and disulfide, according to GOLD scores, there was a significant difference in patients with level 3-MMRC. No correlation was found between LDH, CK, CK-MB, and thiols, DS. ΔCK was found to be associated with ΔDS, and ΔCK-MB with ΔNT, and ΔTT.

Conclusion

PR contributes to the antioxidant process by improving respiration and reducing oxidative stress. The decrease in LDH, CK with PR, increase in CK-MB, and correlation of CK with thiols and DS gave a different interpretation. In this case, it should be considered that oxidative stress may also be increased in people with high CK values.

Liver damage and hepatomegaly in COVID-19 patients

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to evaluate the patients with high liver function test results detected at admission to the hospital diagnosed with COVID-19.

METHODOLOGY

Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 by a nasopharyngeal RT-PCR (+) test in the emergency department were included in the study. CRP, liver function tests, and abdominal ultrasonography (US) findings of the patients were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 367 COVID-19 patients, 254 (69.2%) males and 113 (30.8%) females, with a mean age of 60.39 (16.81) years, were included in the study. It was seen that 236 (68.7%) patients were treated without complications, 131 (35.7%) patients needed intensive care, and 81 (22.1%) patients died. The frequency of hepatomegaly was significantly higher in patients with severe course and mortality (p < 0.001). When COVID-19 patients who developed mortality were compared with other patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19, no additional risk factors affecting mortality were detected, except LDH [OR: 1.009, (1.006-1.012); p < 0.001] and high CK [OR: 1.001 CI: 95%, (1.000-1.001); p = 0.032].

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who need to be hospitalized with COVID-19 and who do not have acute and/or chronic liver disease, elevated liver function test results, and an increase in liver sizes at presentation, it was seen that these did not have an effect on the clinical outcome. However, in addition to the presence of advanced age and comorbidity, the presence of hepatomegaly measured by CT at admission, and high LDH and CK levels were associated with poor clinical outcomes.

Elucidation of the Role of Lipids in Late Endosomes on the Aggregation of Insulin

Abrupt aggregation of misfolded proteins is the underlying molecular cause of numerous pathologies including diabetes type 2 and injection amyloidosis. Although the exact cause of this process is unclear, a growing body of evidence suggests that protein aggregation is linked to a high protein concentration and the presence of lipid membranes. Endosomes are cell organelles that often possess high concentrations of proteins due to their uptake from the extracellular space. However, the role of endosomes in amyloid pathologies remains unclear. In this study, we used a set of biophysical methods to determine the role of bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP), the major lipid constituent of late endosomes on the aggregation properties of insulin. We found that both saturated and unsaturated BMP accelerated protein aggregation. However, very little if any changes in the secondary structure of insulin fibrils grown in the presence of BMP were observed. Therefore, no changes in the toxicity of these aggregates compared to the fibrils formed in the lipid-free environment were observed. We also found that the toxicity of insulin oligomers formed in the presence of a 77:23 mol/mol ratio of BMP/PC, which represents the lipid composition of late endosomes, was slightly higher than the toxicity of insulin oligomers formed in the lipid-free environment. However, the toxicity of mature insulin fibrils formed in the presence of BMP/PC mixture was found to be lower or similar to the toxicity of insulin fibrils formed in the lipid-free environment. These results suggest that late endosomes are unlikely to be the source of highly toxic protein aggregates if amyloid proteins aggregate in them.

Role of Saturation and Length of Fatty Acids of Phosphatidylserine in the Aggregation of Transthyretin

The progressive accumulation of transthyretin (TTR), a small protein that transports thyroxine, in various organs and tissues is observed upon transthyretin amyloidosis, a severe pathology that affects the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems. Once expressed in the liver and choroid plexus, TTR is secreted into the bloodstream and cerebrospinal fluid. In addition to thyroxine, TTR interacts with a large number of molecules, including retinol-binding protein and lipids. In this study, we examined the extent to which phosphatidylserine (PS), a phospholipid that is responsible for the recognition of apoptotic cells by macrophages, could alter the stability of TTR. Using thioflavin T assay, we investigated the rates of TTR aggregation in the presence of PS with different lengths and saturation of fatty acids (FAs). We found that all analyzed lipids decelerated the rate of TTR aggregation. We also used a set of biophysical methods to investigate the extent to which the presence of PS altered the morphology and secondary structure of TTR aggregates. Our results showed that the length and saturation of fatty acids in PS uniquely altered the morphology and secondary structure of TTR fibrils. As a result, TTR fibrils that were formed in the presence of PS with different lengths and saturation of FAs exerted significantly lower cell toxicity compared with the TTR aggregates grown in the lipid-free environment. These findings help to reveal the role of PS in transthyretin amyloidosis and determine the role of the length and saturation of FAs in PS on the morphology and secondary structure of TTR fibrils.

Predictive value of lactate dehydrogenase combined with the abbreviated burn severity index for acute kidney injury and mortality in severe burn patients

BACKGROUND

Extensive burns are devastating trauma. This study aimed to explore the predictive value of early lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, the abbreviated burn severity index (ABSI) and their combination on acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality after severe burns.

METHODS AND RESULTS

194 severe burn patients (TBSA ≥ 30%) were included. After multivariate analyses, early LDH value (first 24 h after admission) was an independent risk factor for early AKI (OR=1.095, CI,1.025-1.169,p = 0.007) and AKI (OR=1.452, CI,1.131-1.864, p = 0.003) in severe burn patients and was still a significant risk factor for mortality (OR=1.059, CI,1.006-1.115，p = 0.03). In ROC analysis, after combining LDH and ABSI, the AUC values were 0.925 for AKI, 0.926 for stage 3 AKI, and 0.904 for mortality. Based on cut-off values, patients were divided into different risk groups. The cumulative incidence of AKI (within 5 days, 30 days) and survival rate (within 60 days) were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. The mortality, AKI incidence, and AKI staging showed a significant upward trend with the increasing risk level (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Early LDH level is an independent risk factor for early AKI and AKI. LDH combined with ABSI can better predict mortality and AKI than single indicators.

Increased serum interleukin-6 and lactate dehydrogenase levels among nonsurvival severe COVID-19 patients when compared to survival ones

BACKGROUND

Accurate and rapid laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 infection and its deterioration is one of the milestones of pandemic control. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of the mainly used laboratory biomarkers (WBCS, neutrophil and lymphocyte percentages, CRP, ferritin, IL-6, D-dimer, procalcitonin, and LDH) in the sera of severe COVID-19 Egyptian patients to assess the most appropriate biomarker used in severe COVID-19 patients.

METHODS

A total of 180 unvaccinated severe COVID-19 patients were enrolled in our study. Demographic data, hospitalization time, medical history, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, oxygen supply, laboratory findings, and thorax tomography of the patients were obtained retrospectively from the hospital's electronic information system.

RESULTS

Our results revealed that the levels of neutrophil percentage, CRP, IL-6, PCT, and LDH were significantly increased while lymphocyte percentage was significantly decreased among nonsurvival severe COVID-19 patients when compared with survival ones. By using ROC curve analysis, IL-6, and LDH are the most sensitive and specific markers for the prediction of bad prognosis and mortality among severe COVID-19 patients with 100% and 93% sensitivity and 93.7% specificity; respectively. IL-6 and LDH showed significant correlations with the other parameters, which suggested their association with the severity of COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

By using survival severe COVID-19 patients as a control group, our results showed that blood neutrophil percentage, serum CRP, IL-6, PCT, and LDH were significantly increased in non-survivors as compared to survivors. As biomarkers, our results revealed that IL-6 and LDH are good predictors of mortality among severe COVID-19 patients.

Inflammatory markers and COVID-19 disease progression

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a global humanitarian crisis. Despite ongoing research, transmission risks and many disease characteristics remained unclear. Most patients have displayed elevated levels of certain inflammatory markers, which we sought to investigate further in relation to disease severity. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between inflammatory markers and the severity of COVID-19 among patients.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study from April to September 2020, involving 143 COVID-19 PCR-positive patients from Ziauddin Hospital. Electronic patient records provided data on demographics, clinical status, and laboratory results.

RESULTS

The majority of PCR-positive patients were elderly males with comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension. Almost all patients exhibited increased levels of various inflammatory markers, with procalcitonin (97.2%) being the most common. Statistically significant differences were observed in the levels of TLC (p = 0.005), CRP (p = 0.001), LDH (p = 0.001), Ferritin (p = 0.001), D-dimer (p = 0.001), and procalcitonin (p = 0.028), in relation to COVID-19 severity.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggest a significant association between levels of inflammatory markers and COVID-19 severity. All markers, except procalcitonin, demonstrated a significant correlation with disease severity. These results could enhance our understanding of COVID-19 pathogenesis and help predict and manage severe cases.

Regression of a large prolapsed lumbar disc herniation achieved by conservative treatment: A case report and literature review

A common spinal condition known as lumbar disc herniation (LDH) can result in radicular and low back discomfort. A 27-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a 6-year history of persistent low back pain, and his low back pain had recurred with radiation to his lower extremities over the last two months. An extensive right-sided paracentral disc herniation in the L5/S1 intervertebral region, which compressed the nerve root, was discovered by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of his lumbar spine. After receiving conservative treatment, the patient reported that his lower back discomfort and neurogenic claudication had gradually subsided after 4 months. After one year, a follow-up MRI showed that the massive, prolapsed disc herniation at the L5/S1 level had totally disappeared. The sagittal protrusion length of the L5/S1 intervertebral disc shrank from 12.35 mm to 3.49 mm. However, there remained a chance of vertebral height loss. During the course of treatment, the height of the L5/S1 intervertebral space was still slightly reduced. The intervertebral space height declined from 7.705 mm to 7.201 mm after one year of treatment. The current case and a review of the literature demonstrate that LDH can decrease with conservative therapy over a short period of time. We stress the effectiveness of conservative treatment in very select LDH cases that lack a clear surgical justification.

Primary tumour category, site of metastasis, and baseline serum S100B and LDH are independent prognostic factors for survival in metastatic melanoma patients treated with anti-PD-1

Background

Prognostic classification of metastatic melanoma patients treated with anti-PD-1 is of great interest to clinicians.

Objective

We aimed to determine the anti-PD-1 treatment related prognostic performance of demographics, clinical and histological prognostic markers and baseline serum S100B and LDH levels in advanced melanoma.

Methods

A total of 200 patients with unresectable metastatic melanoma were included in this retrospective study. 34.5% had stage M1c disease and 11.5% had stage M1d disease at the start of therapy. 30% had pT4b primary melanoma. 55.5% had elevated baseline serum S100B levels and 62.5% had elevated baseline serum LDH levels. We analysed the risk of death using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional-hazards models and the median overall (OS) and progression-free (PFS) survival using the Kaplan-Meier estimator.

Results

The median follow-up time from the start of anti-PD-1 treatment in patients who were alive at the end of the study (N=81) was 37 months (range: 6.1-95.9). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that M1c stage (vs. M1a, p=0.005) or M1d stage at the start of therapy (vs. M1a, p=0.001), pT4b category (vs. pT1a, p=0.036), elevated baseline serum S100B levels (vs. normal S100B, p=0.008) and elevated LDH levels (vs. normal LDH, p=0.049) were independently associated with poor survival. The combination of M1d stage, elevated baseline serum S100B and LDH levels and pT4b category was associated with a very high risk of death (HR 4.72 [1.81; 12.33]). In the subgroup of patients with pT4b primary melanoma, the median OS of patients with normal serum S100B levels was 37.25 months [95% CI 11.04; 63.46]), while the median OS of patients with elevated serum S100B levels was 8.00 months [95% CI 3.49; 12.51]) (p<0.001); the median OS of patients with normal serum LDH levels was 41.82 months [95% CI 11.33; 72.32]), while the median OS of patients with elevated serum LDH levels was 12.29 months [95% CI 4.35; 20.23]) (p=0.002).

Conclusion

Our real-world study indicates that the prognostic role of primary melanoma parameters is preserved in anti-PD-1 treated stage IV patients. Furthermore, there seems to be perspective in combining clinical, histological and serum prognostic markers in a prognostic model.

A Comparative and Critical Analysis for In Vitro Cytotoxic Evaluation of Magneto-Crystalline Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles Using MTT, Crystal Violet, LDH, and Apoptosis Assay

Zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZFO NPs) are a promising magneto-crystalline platform for nanomedicine-based cancer theranostics. ZFO NPs synthesized using co-precipitation method are characterized using different techniques. UV-visible spectroscopy exhibits absorption peaks specific for ZFO. Raman spectroscopy identifies Raman active, infrared active, and silent vibrational modes while Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) spectra display IR active modes that confirm the presence of ZFO. X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) exhibits the crystalline planes of single-phase ZFO with a face-centered cubic structure that coincides with the selected area electron diffraction pattern (SAED). The average particle size according to high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) is 5.6 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) signals confirm the chemical states of Fe, Zn, and O. A superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) displays the magnetic response of ZFO NPs, showing a magnetic moment of 45.5 emu/gm at 70 kOe. These ZFO NPs were then employed for comparative cytotoxicity evaluation using MTT, crystal violet, and LDH assays on breast adenocarcinoma epithelial cell (MCF-7), triple-negative breast cancer lines (MDA-MB 231), and human embryonic kidney cell lines (HEK-293). Flow cytometric analysis of all the three cell lines were performed in various concentrations of ZFO NPs for automated cell counting and sorting based on live cells, cells entering in early or late apoptotic phase, as well as in the necrotic phase. This analysis confirmed that ZFO NPs are more cytotoxic towards triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) as compared to breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) and normal cell lines (HEK-293), thus corroborating that ZFO can be exploited for cancer therapeutics.

High-Entropy Layered Double Hydroxides with Highly Adjustable Components for Enhancing Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution

The main obstacle to the development of large-scale electrochemical hydrogen production based on water splitting is the slow four-electron kinetics of OER (oxygen evolution reaction). The most efficient method is to create sophisticated and effective OER catalysts. Here, we proposed the controlled synthesis of high-entropy layered double hydroxides (HELDH) for wide component regulation and the component design of high OER activity to make up for the restricted component regulation in conventional catalysts. Through the use of coprecipitation and hydrothermal synthesis, the representative sample (MgCoNi)3(FeAl)-LDH is created and systematically characterized. Significantly, this technique of preparation may generically synthesize a variety of HELDH with various component combinations, demonstrating the remarkable adaptability of the HELDH components. Subsequently, (FeCoNi)3(FeCr)-LDH with high OER activity is designed and synthesized. (FeCoNi)3(FeCr)-LDH shows excellent OER activity (overpotential is only 230 mV at 10 mA cm-2). A new platform for the creation of high-performance catalysts and high-entropy materials was established by the synthesis and design of HELDH.

Correlation of Baseline Tumor Burden with Clinical Outcome in Melanoma Patients Treated with Ipilimumab

INTRODUCTION

Tumor burden is a frequently mentioned parameter; however, a commonly accepted definition is still lacking.

METHODS

In this double-center prospective and retrospective study, 76 patients with unresectable stage III or stage IV melanoma treated with ipilimumab were included. We defined the baseline tumor burden (BTB) as the global sum of all metastases' longest diameters before treatment started and correlated the calculated BTB with disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and with the baseline levels of LDH, S100B, and sULPB2.

RESULTS

BTB correlated significantly with DCR (p = 0.009), PFS (p = 0.002), OS (p = 0.032), and the occurrence of NRAS mutation (p = 0.006). BTB was also correlated to baseline serum levels of LDH (p = 0.011), S100B (p = 0.027), and SULBP (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that BPB and LDH were independently correlated with PFS and OS. With increasing BTB, disease control was less likely; no patient with a BTB >200 mm achieved disease control. For patients with brain metastasis, no correlation of BTB with DCR (p = 0.251), PFS (p = 0.059), or OS (p = 0.981) was observed.

CONCLUSION

Calculated BTB is an independent prognostic factor for patients with metastatic melanoma treated with ipilimumab. Using calculated BTB as a definition of tumor burden may help increase comparability of outcome of therapies in future studies.

Tumor Markers and Their Diagnostic Significance in Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) is characterized by silent progression and late-stage diagnosis. It is critical to detect and accurately diagnose the disease early to improve survival rates. Tumor markers have emerged as valuable tools in the diagnosis and management of OC, offering non-invasive and cost-effective options for screening, monitoring, and prognosis.

PURPOSE

This paper explores the diagnostic importance of various tumor markers including CA-125, CA15-3, CA 19-9, HE4,hCG, inhibin, AFP, and LDH, and their impact on disease monitoring and treatment response assessment.

METHODS

Article searches were performed on PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Keywords used for the searching process were "Ovarian cancer", "Cancer biomarkers", "Early detection", "Cancer diagnosis", "CA-125","CA 15-3","CA 19-9", "HE4","hCG", "inhibin", "AFP", "LDH", and others.

RESULTS

HE4, when combined with CA-125, shows improved sensitivity and specificity, particularly in early-stage detection. Additionally, hCG holds promise as a prognostic marker, aiding treatment response prediction and outcome assessment. Novel markers like microRNAs, DNA methylation patterns, and circulating tumor cells offer potential for enhanced diagnostic accuracy and personalized management. Integrating these markers into a comprehensive panel may improve sensitivity and specificity in ovarian cancer diagnosis. However, careful interpretation of tumor marker results is necessary, considering factors such as age, menopausal status, and comorbidities. Further research is needed to validate and refine diagnostic algorithms, optimizing the clinical significance of tumor markers in ovarian cancer management. In conclusion, tumor markers such as CA-125, CA15-3, CA 19-9, HE4, and hCG provide valuable insights into ovarian cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis, with the potential to enhance early detection.

A nomogram to predict the cumulative risk for brain metastases in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer without prophylactic cranial irradiation

OBJECTIVE

Patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) have a high risk of developing brain metastases (BM). Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) is a standard therapy for limited-stage SCLC (LS-SCLC) patients who achieved complete or partial response after thoracic chemoradiotherapy (Chemo-RT). Recent studies have indicated that a subgroup of patients with a lower risk of BM can avoid PCI, and the present study therefore tries to construct a nomogram to predict the cumulative risk of development of BM in LS-SCLC patients without PCI.

METHODS

After screening of 2298 SCLC patients who were treated at the Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from December 2009 to April 2016, a total of 167 consecutive patients with LS-SCLC who received thoracic Chemo-RT without PCI were retrospectively analyzed. The paper analyzed clinical and laboratory factors that may be correlated with BM, such as response to treatment, pretreatment serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, and TNM stage. Thereafter, a nomogram was constructed to predict 3‑ and 5‑year intracranial progression-free survival (IPFS).

RESULTS

Of 167 patients with LS-SCLC, 50 developed subsequent BM. Univariate analysis showed that pretreatment LDH (pre-LDH) ≥ 200 IU/L, an incomplete response to initial chemoradiation, and UICC stage III were positively correlated to a higher risk of BM (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified pretreatment LDH level (hazard ratio [HR] 1.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08-3.34, p = 0.026), response to chemoradiation (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.04-3.34, p = 0.035), and UICC stage (HR 6.67, 95% CI 1.03-49.15, p = 0.043) as independent predictors for the development of BM. A nomogram model was then established, and areas under the curve of 3‑year and 5‑year IPFS were 0.72 and 0.67, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The present study has developed an innovative tool that is able to predict the individual cumulative risk for development of BM in LS-SCLC patients without PCI, which is beneficial for providing personalized risk estimates and facilitating the decision to perform PCI.

Misuse of tumor marker levels leads to an insufficient International Germ Cell Consensus Classification (IGCCCG) risk group assignment and impaired treatment

BACKGROUND

Metastatic germ cell tumors of the testis (GCTs) are risk-stratified according to the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) classification system. This risk classification is based on anatomical risk factors as well as tumor marker levels of AFP, HCG, and LDH assessed pre-chemotherapy after orchiectomy treatment. An incorrect classification is possible when pre-orchiectomy marker levels are used, possibly resulting in over- or undertreatment of patients. The aim was to investigate the potential frequency and clinical relevance of incorrect risk stratification using pre-orchiectomy tumor marker levels.

METHODS

A multicenter registry analysis, including patients with metastasized nonseminomatous GCT (NSGCT), was conducted by investigators of the German Testicular Cancer Study Group (GTCSG). Based on the marker levels at different timepoints, IGCCCG risk groups were calculated. The agreement was tested using Cohen's kappa.

RESULTS

A total of 672 of 1910 (35%) patients were diagnosed with metastatic NSGCTs, and 523 (78%) had sufficient data for 224 follow-up data points. By using pre-orchiectomy tumor marker levels, 106 patients (20%) would have been incorrectly classified. Seventy-two patients (14%) were classified into a higher risk category, and 34 patients (7%) were classified into a lower risk category. Cohen's kappa was 0.69 (p < 0.001), showing a strong agreement between the use of both marker timepoints. The treatment of misclassified patients would have resulted in an overtreatment of 72 patients or undertreatment of 34 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of pre-orchiectomy tumor marker levels may lead to an incorrect risk classification and might subsequently lead to under- or overtreatment of patients.

Metformin and Aspirin: Anticancer effects on A549 and PC3 cancer cells and the mechanisms of action

Metformin exerts its anticancer effect through two mechanisms, directly affecting the tumor and indirectly reducing systemic insulin levels. The anticancer effects of aspirin occur by inhibiting Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. COX-2 is absent in many cell types under normal conditions and increases under pathological conditions such as cancer. This study aims to investigate the effect of metformin and aspirin and their combination of them on A549 and PC3 cell lines. Metformin and aspirin were investigated separately and in combination on two cancer cell lines, A549 and PC3. The examined groups include the negative control of untreated cells and the positive control of cisplatin and drugs at concentrations of 15, 10, and 20 μg/ mL to investigate the mechanism of oxidative stress factors (reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, Glutathione (GSH)) and apoptosis (lactate dehydrogenase). The results showed that aspirin, metformin, and their combination could affect cancer cell growth by damaging mitochondria, releasing reactive oxygen species, and activating the oxidative stress pathway. Also, these two drugs show the activation of the apoptotic pathway in cancer cells by increasing the lactate dehydrogenase factor and releasing it from the cells. By disrupting the balance of oxidants and antioxidants in the cell, metformin and aspirin cause an increase in the level of reactive oxygen species and a decrease in the level of glutathione reserves, followed by an increase in the level of lipid peroxidation and a decrease in cell viability. Unlike common chemotherapy drugs, these drugs have no known severe side effects; Therefore, in the not-so-distant future, these drugs can also be used as anticancer drugs.

Highlights

Metformin and aspirin, commonly used drugs for diabetes and inflammation, inhibit the growth of cancer cell lines, A549 and PC3.Metformin and aspirin, either separately or in combination, can potentially impede cancer cell growth by disrupting mitochondrial function, inducing the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and activating oxidative stress pathways.Furthermore, these drugs can trigger apoptosis, a programmed cell death mechanism, in cancer cells by increasing lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and facilitating its release from the cells.

Comparison between cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for differential diagnosis of acute meningitis

OBJECTIVES

Given the difficulty in the differential diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis (BM) and viral meningitis (VM), we aimed to compare the ability of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, such as lactate, glucose, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), total white blood cell count, and predominance of neutrophils, as single tests to differentiate microbiologically defined acute BM and VM.

METHODS

CSF samples were divided into three groups: BM (n=17), VM (n=14) (both with the etiological agent identified), and normal control groups (n=26).

RESULTS

All the biomarkers studied were significantly higher in the BM group than in the VM or control groups (p>0.05). CSF lactate showed the best diagnostic clinical performance characteristics: sensitivity (94.12%), specificity (100%), positive and negative predictive value (100 and 97.56%, respectively), positive and negative likelihood ratio (38.59 and 0.06, respectively), accuracy (98.25%), and AUC (0.97). CSF CRP is excellent for screening BM and VM, as its best feature is its specificity (100%). CSF LDH is not recommended for screening or case-finding. LDH levels were higher in Gram-negative diplococcus than in Gram-positive diplococcus. Other biomarkers were not different between Gram-positive and negative bacteria. The highest level of agreement between the CSF biomarkers was between CSF lactate and CRP [kappa coefficient, 0.91 (0.79; 1.00)].

CONCLUSIONS

All markers showed significant differences between the studied groups and were increased in acute BM. CSF lactate is better than the other biomarkers studied for screening acute BM due to its high specificity.

NMR Investigation of Water Molecular Dynamics in Sulfonated Polysulfone/Layered Double Hydroxide Composite Membranes for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

The development of nanocomposite membranes based on hydrocarbon polymers is emerging as one of the most promising strategies for overcoming the performance, cost, and safety limitations of Nafion, which is the current benchmark in proton exchange membranes for fuel cell applications. Among the various nanocomposite membranes, those based on sulfonated polysulfone (sPSU) and Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs) hold promise regarding their successful utilization in practical applications due to their interesting electrochemical performance. This study aims to elucidate the effect of LDH introduction on the internal arrangement of water molecules in the hydrophilic clusters of sPSU and on its proton transport properties. Swelling tests, NMR characterization, and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) investigation allowed us to demonstrate that LDH platelets act as physical crosslinkers between -SO₃H groups of adjacent polymer chains. This increases dimensional stability while simultaneously creating continuous paths for proton conduction. This feature, combined with its impressive water retention capability, allows sPSU to yield a proton conductivity of ca. 4 mS cm^-1 at 90 °C and 20% RH.

Association of the pretreatment lung immune prognostic index with immune checkpoint inhibitor outcomes in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether the pretreatment Lung Immune Prognostic Index (LIPI) is associated with outcomes in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients under ICI.

METHODS

A two-center retrospective study of patients with HCC treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) between January 2018 and January 2021 was performed. Based on pretreatment derived neutrophils/ (leukocytes minus neutrophils) ratio (dNLR) greater than 3 and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level greater than the normal value, patients were stratified into three groups (good LIPI:0 risk factor, intermediate LIPI: 1 risk factor, and poor LIPI: 2 risk factors). The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The second endpoints were disease control rate (DCR) and objective response rate (ORR).

RESULTS

In the pooled cohort (n = 224), 80 (35.7%) had a good LIPI (zero factor), 91 (40.6%) had intermediate LIPI (one factor), and 53 (23.7%) had poor LIPI (two factors). The median follow-up was 25.1 months. Median OS was 16.8 months, 12.5 months, and 9.5 months for the good, intermediate, and poor LIPI groups, respectively (P < 0.0001). Median PFS was 11.8 months, 7.8 months, and 4.0 months for the good, intermediate, and poor LIPI groups, respectively (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis indicated that the intermediate LIPI and poor LIPI both were independently associated with OS, PFS, and ORR, DCR (P < 0.05), as risk factors.

CONCLUSION

Pretreatment LIPI was correlated with worse outcomes for ICIs suggesting that LIPI could be promising biomarker for advanced HCC patients under ICIs.