Deep learning and remote photoplethysmography powered advancements in contactless physiological measurement.

In recent decades, there has been ongoing development in the application of computer vision (CV) in the medical field. As conventional contact-based physiological measurement techniques often restrict a patient's mobility in the clinical environment, the ability to achieve continuous, comfortable and convenient monitoring is thus a topic of interest to researchers. One type of CV application is remote imaging photoplethysmography (rPPG), which can predict vital signs using a video or image. While contactless physiological measurement techniques have an excellent application prospect, the lack of uniformity or standardization of contactless vital monitoring methods limits their application in remote healthcare/telehealth settings. Several methods have been developed to improve this limitation and solve the heterogeneity of video signals caused by movement, lighting, and equipment. The fundamental algorithms include traditional algorithms with optimization and developing deep learning (DL) algorithms. This article aims to provide an in-depth review of current Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods using CV and DL in contactless physiological measurement and a comprehensive summary of the latest development of contactless measurement techniques for skin perfusion, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, heart rate variability, and blood pressure.

SIVA-1 interaction with PCBP1 serves as a predictive biomarker for cisplatin sensitivity in gastric cancer and its inhibitory effect on tumor growth in vivo.

Background: SIVA-1 has been reported to play a key role in cell apoptosis and gastric cancer (GC) chemoresistance in vitro. Nevertheless, the clinical significance of SIVA-1 in GC chemotherapy remains unclear. Methods and results: Immunohistochemistry and histoculture drug response assays were used to determine SIVA-1 expression and the inhibition rate (IR) of agents to GC and to further analyze the relationship between these two phenomena. Additionally, cisplatin (DDP)-resistant GC cells were used to elucidate the role and mechanism of SIVA-1 in vivo. The results demonstrated that SIVA-1 expression was positively correlated with the IR of DDP to GC but not with those of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or adriamycin (ADM). Furthermore, SIVA-1 overexpression with DDP treatment synergistically inhibited tumor growth in vivo by increasing PCBP1 and decreasing Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that SIVA-1 may serve as an indicator of the GC sensitivity to DDP, and the mechanism of SIVA-1 in GC resistance to DDP was preliminarily revealed.

Deficiency of m 6 A RNA methylation promotes ZBP1-mediated cell death.

m 6 A RNA methylation suppresses the immunostimulatory potential of endogenous RNA. Deficiency of m 6 A provokes inflammatory responses and cell death, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here we showed that the noncoding RNA 7SK gains immunostimulatory potential upon m 6 A depletion and subsequently activates the RIG-I/MAVS axis to spark interferon (IFN) signaling cascades. Concomitant excess of IFN and m 6 A deficiency synergistically facilitate the formation of RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4) to promote ZBP1-mediated necroptotic cell death. Collectively, our findings delineate a hitherto uncharacterized mechanism that links m 6 A dysregulation with ZBP1 activity in triggering inflammatory cell death.

Achieving Record C2H2 Packing Density for Highly Efficient C2H2/C2H4 Separation with a Metal-Organic Framework Prepared by a Scalable Synthesis in Water.

Adsorptive C2H2/C2H4 separation using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has emerged as a promising technology for the removal of C2H2 (acetylene) impurity (1%) from C2H4 (ethylene). The practical application of these materials involves the optimization of separation performance as well as development of scalable and green production protocols.Herein, we report the efficient C2H2/C2H4 separation in a MOF, Cu(OH)INA (INA: isonicotinate) which achieves a record C2H2 packing density of 351 mg cm-3 at 0.01 bar through high affinity towards C2H2. DFT (density functional theory) calculations reveal the synergistic binding mechanism through pore confinement and the oxygen sites in pore wall.The weakly basic nature of binding sites leads to a relatively low heat of adsorption (Qst) of approximately 36 kJ/mol, which is beneficial for material regeneration and thermal management. Furthermore, a scalable and environmentally friendly synthesis protocol with a high space-time yield of 544 kg m-3 day-1 has been developed without using any modulating agents. This material also demonstrates enduring separation performance for multiple cycles, maintaining its efficacy after exposure to water or air for three months.

Recovery of High-Purity SF6 from Humid SF6/N2 Mixture within a Co(II)-Pyrazolate Framework.

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is extensively employed in the power industry. However, its emissions significantly contribute to the greenhouse effect. The direct recovery of high purity SF6 from industrial waste gases would benefit its sustainable use, yet this represents a considerable challenge. Herein, we report the enrichment of SF6 from SF6/N2 mixtures via adsorptive separation in a stable Co(II)-pyrazolate MOF BUT-53 (BUT: Beijing University of Technology), which features dynamic molecular traps. BUT-53 exhibits an excellent SF6 adsorption uptake of 2.82 mmol/g at 0.1 bar and 298 K, as well as an unprecedented SF6/N2 (10:90) selectivity of 2485. Besides, the remarkable SF6/N2 selectivity of BUT-53 enables recovery of high purity (>99.9%) SF6 from a low concentration (10%) mixture through a breakthrough experiment. The excellent SF6/N2 separation efficiency was also well maintained under humid conditions (RH = 90%) over multiple cycles. Molecular simulation, single-crystal diffraction, and adsorption kinetics studies elucidate the associated adsorption mechanism and water tolerance.

Multi-Shell Nanourchin-Integrated Dual Mode Lateral Flow Immunoassay for Sensitive and Rapid Detection of Clinical Cardiac Myosin-Binding Protein C.

Cardiac myosin-binding protein C (cMyBP-C) is a novel cardiac marker of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute cardiac injuries (ACI). Construction of point-of-care testing techniques capable of sensing cMyBP-C with high sensitivity and precision is urgently needed. Herein, we synthesized an Au@NGQDs@Au/Ag multi-shell nanoUrchins (MSNUs), and then applied it in a colorimetric/SERS dual-mode immunoassay for detection of cMyBP-C. The MSNUs displayed superior stability, colorimetric brightness, and SERS enhancement ability with an enhanced factor of 5.4 × 109, which were beneficial to improve the detection capability of test strips. The developed MSNU-based test strips can achieve an ultrasensitive immunochromatographic assay of cMyBP-C in both colorimetric and SERS modes with the limits of detection as low as 19.3 and 0.77 pg/mL, respectively. Strikingly, this strip was successfully applied to analyze actual plasma samples with significantly better sensitivity, negative predictive value, and accuracy than commercially available gold test strips. Notably, this method possessed a wide range of application scenarios via combining with a color recognizer application named Color Grab on the smartphone, which can meet various needs of different users. Overall, our MSNU-based test strip as a mobile health monitoring tool shows excellent sensitivity, reproducibility, and rapid detection of the cMyBP-C, which holds great potential for the early clinic diagnosis of AMI and ACI.

Real-world effectiveness and safety of macitentan in patients with pulmonary artery hypertension: a multicenter, retrospective, observational study in China.

BACKGROUND: Macitentan, either as monotherapy or part of combination therapy, improved clinical outcomes in patients with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in clinical trials. Evidence on the effectiveness and safety of macitentan administered in real-world clinical practice in China is limited. METHODS: This real-world, retrospective, multicenter chart review study was conducted at seven hospitals in China. Adult patients with a diagnosis of PAH who initiated macitentan and had medical assessments at 3-7 months after macitentan initiation were included. The primary outcomes were changes in the World Health Organization functional class (WHO-FC), 6-min walk distance (6MWD), and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)/B-type natriuretic peptide from baseline to first follow-up visit (months 3-7). Serious adverse events (SAEs) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of macitentan were collected. RESULTS: From 30 August 2021 to 31 March 2022, 214 eligible patients were included in the safety analysis set and 105 patients were included in the analysis of effectiveness. At the first follow-up visit compared with baseline, significant changes in WHO-FC were observed (p = .04), 93.5% patients had their WHO-FC improved (25.8%) or maintained (67.7%). 6MWD changed by a mean (standard deviation [SD]) of 45.0 (81.4) meters (p < .001), with 94.7% having their 6MWD improved (34.7%) or maintained (60.0%). The mean (SD) of NT-proBNP decreased from 1667.4 (3233.0) ng/L to 1090.0 (2230.1) ng/L (p < .001). In the safety analysis set, 24 (11.2%) patients experienced at least one ADR and/or SAE. ADRs and SAEs were reported in 11 (5.1%) and 18 (8.4%), respectively. No deaths or unexpected safety events were observed. CONCLUSION: This study provided real-world evidence on the clinical benefits and good tolerance of macitentan in Chinese patients with PAH treated in routine clinical practice.

Enhanced Catalytic Activity of Crystalline Phosphorus Nanosheets Fabricated via Solvothermal Phase Transformation.

The newly reported crystalline phosphorus nanosheets (cryst-P NSs) exhibit promising features for industrial applications, including outstanding air-water stability and facile large-scale production. However, their complex crystallization impedes a priori tailoring. Herein, the temporal evolution of cryst-P NSs was investigated with the optimized synthesis parameters. The occurrence of self-assembly and solid-state rearrangement unveiled the existence of an intermediate phase as the bulk crystalline precursor and the predominance of nonclassical crystallization pathway(s). With the upgraded synthesis protocol simultaneously strengthening the merits of cryst-P NSs, their catalytic performances were evaluated in various electro- and/or photocatalytic reactions spanning hydrogen and oxygen evolution, full water splitting, CO2 reduction, and organic pollutant decomposition. Superior catalytic activities and orders of magnitude longer lifetimes were consistently discerned compared with the widely employed black phosphorus nanosheets with similar size and thickness. The exciting discoveries in both fundamental crystallization and catalytic applications drastically thrust the comprehension of elemental phosphorus, shedding light on the encouraging capabilities of solvothermal synthesis strategies in the design and systematic tailoring of phosphorus materials.

Saponin Esculeoside A and Aglycon Esculeogenin A from Ripe Tomatoes Inhibit Dendritic Cell Function by Attenuation of Toll-like Receptor 4 Signaling.

Dendritic cells (DCs) can initiate immune response through the presenting antigens to naïve T lymphocytes. Esculeoside A (EsA), a spirosolane glycoside, is reported as a major component in the ripe fruit of tomato. Little is known about the effect of tomato saponin on mice bone marrow-derived DCs. This study revealed that EsA and its aglycon, esculeogenin A (Esg-A), attenuated the phenotypic and functional maturation of murine DCs stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We found that EsA/Esg-A down-regulated the expression of major histocompatibility complex type II molecules and costimulatory molecule CD86 after LPS stimulation. It was also determined that EsA-/Esg-A-treated DCs were poor stimulators of allogeneic T-cell proliferation and exhibited impaired interleukin-12 and TNF-α production. Additionally, EsA/Esg-A was able to inhibit TLR4-related and p-NFκB signaling pathways. This study shows new insights into the immunopharmacology of EsA/Esg-A, and represents a novel approach to controlling DCs for therapeutic application.

Assessment of the reversibility of resistance in the absence of antibiotics and its relationship with the resistance gene's fitness cost: a genetic study with mcr-1.

BACKGROUND: The intensive use of antibiotics has resulted in strong natural selection for the evolution of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), but whether, and under what circumstances, the removal of antibiotics would result in a rapid reduction in AMR has been insufficiently explored. We aimed to test the hypothesis that in the simple, yet common, case of AMR conferred by a single gene, removing antibiotics would quickly reduce the prevalence of resistance if the AMR gene imposes a high fitness cost and costless resistance is extremely rare among its proximal mutants. METHODS: In this genetic study, to test our hypothesis, we used the mcr-1 gene in Escherichia coli, which confers resistance to the last-resort antibiotic colistin, as a model. A high-throughput reverse genetics approach was used to evaluate mcr-1 variants for their fitness cost and resistance levels relative to a non-functional construct, by measuring relative growth rates in colistin-free media and at 2 µg/mL and 4 µg/mL colistin. We identified costless resistant mcr-1 mutants, and examined their properties within the context of the sequential organisation of mcr-1's functional domains as well as the evolutionary accessibility of these mutations. Finally, a simple population genetic model incorporating the measured fitness cost was constructed and tested against previously published real-world data of mcr-1 prevalence in colonised inpatients in China since the 2017 colistin ban in fodder additives. FINDINGS: We estimated the relative growth rates of 14 742 mcr-1 E coli variants (including the wild type), 3449 of which were single-nucleotide mutants. E coli showed 73·8% less growth per 24 h when carrying wild-type mcr-1 compared with the non-functional construct. 6252 (42·4%) of 14 741 mcr-1 mutants showed colistin resistance accompanied by significant fitness costs, when grown under 4 µg/mL colistin selection. 43 (0·3%) mcr-1 mutants exhibited costless resistance, most of which contained multiple mutations. Among the 3449 single mutants of mcr-1, 3433 (99·5%) had a fitness cost when grown in colistin-free media, with a mean relative growth of 0·305 (SD 0·193) compared with the non-functional variant. 3059 (88·7%) and 1833 (53·1%) of 3449 single mutants outgrew the non-functional mcr-1 in the presence of 2 µg/mL and 4 µg/mL colistin, respectively. Single mutations that gave rise to costless mutants were rare in all three domains of mcr-1 (transmembrane domain, flexible linker, and catalytic domain), but the linker domain was enriched with cost-reducing and resistance-enhancing mutations and depleted with cost-increasing mutations. The population genetics model based on the experimental data accurately predicts the rapid decline in mcr-1 prevalence in real-world data. INTERPRETATION: Many identified costless resistant variants that consist of multiple mutations are unlikely to evolve easily in nature. These findings for colistin and mcr-1 might be applicable to other cases in which AMR entails a substantial fitness cost that cannot be mitigated in proximal mutants. FUNDING: National Natural Science Foundation of China, and National Key Research and Development Program of China.

Identifying high-risk multiple myeloma patients: A novel approach using a clonal gene signature.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a heterogeneous disease with a small subset of high-risk patients having poor prognoses. Identifying these patients is crucial for treatment management and strategic decisions. In this study, we developed a novel computational framework to define prognostic gene signatures by selecting genes with expression driven by clonal copy number alterations. We applied this framework to MM and developed a clonal gene signature (CGS) consisting of 22 genes and evaluated in five independent datasets. The CGS provided significant prognostic values after adjusting for well-established factors including cytogenetic abnormalities, International Staging System (ISS), and Revised ISS (R-ISS). Importantly, CGS demonstrated higher performance in identifying high-risk patients compared to the GEP70 and SKY92 signatures recommended for prognostic stratification of MM. CGS can further stratify patients into subgroups with significantly differential prognoses when applied to the high- and low-risk groups identified by GEP70 and SKY92. Additionally, CGS scores are significantly associated with patient response to dexamethasone, a commonly used treatment for MM. In summary, we proposed a computational framework that requires only gene expression data to identify CGSs for prognosis prediction. CGS provides a useful biomarker for improving prognostic stratification in MM, especially for identifying the highest-risk patients.

Operando Spectroscopic Elucidation of the Bubble Sunshade Effect in Inorganic-Biological Hybrids for Photosynthetic Hydrogen Production.

Hydrogen production by photosynthetic hybrid systems (PBSs) offers a promising avenue for renewable energy. However, the light-harvesting efficiency of PBSs remains constrained due to unclear intracellular kinetic factors. Here, we present an operando elucidation of the sluggish light-harvesting behavior for existing PBSs and strategies to circumvent them. By quantifying the spectral shift in the structural color scattering of individual PBSs during the photosynthetic process, we observe the accumulation of product hydrogen bubbles on their outer membrane. These bubbles act as a sunshade and inhibit light absorption. This phenomenon elucidates the intrinsic constraints on the light-harvesting efficiency of PBSs. The introduction of a tension eliminator into the PBSs effectively improves the bubble sunshade effect and results in a 4.5-fold increase in the light-harvesting efficiency. This work provides valuable insights into the dynamics of transmembrane transport gas products and holds the potential to inspire innovative designs for improving the light-harvesting efficiency of PBSs.

Three-Dimensional Bimetallic Ammonium K-Eu Nitrate with a Rare (6,6)-Connected Ion Topology Exhibiting Structural Phase Transition and Photoluminescence Properties.

A K-Eu bimetallic ammonium metal-nitrate three-dimensional (3D) framework incorporating R-N-methyl-3-hydroxyquinuclidine, (RM3HQ)2KEu(NO3)6 (RM3HQ = R-N-methyl-3-hydroxyquinuclidine, 1), was characterized and reported. Distinguishing from the former hybrid rare-earth double perovskites, 1 adopts a mixed corner- and face-sharing K+/Eu3+-centered polyhedral connectivity to form a 3D inorganic framework, showing a rare (6, 6)-connected ion topology with a 66 framework. Notably, 1 exhibits clear phase transition, and the switchable thermodynamic behavior is confirmed by variable-temperature dielectric measurements and second-harmonic generation response. Moreover, 1 also shows photoluminescence properties. The activator Eu3+ plays a crucial role in this process, leading to a significant narrow emission at 592 nm with a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 20.76%. The fluorescence lifetime (FLT) of 1 is 4.32 ms. This finding enriches the bimetallic hybrid system for potential electronic and/or luminescence applications.

Lifestyle-based subtypes of childhood obesity and their association with cardiometabolic factors: A cluster analysis.

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle factors play an important role in the development and management of childhood obesity and its related cardiometabolic complications. OBJECTIVE/METHODS: We aimed to explore childhood obesity subtypes based on lifestyle factors and examine their association with cardiometabolic health. We included 1550 children with obesity from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Cluster analysis identified obesity subtypes based on four lifestyle factors (physical activity, diet quality, sedentary time and smoking). Multiple linear regression assessed their association with cardiometabolic factors. RESULTS: Five subtypes of childhood obesity were identified: unhealthy subtype (n = 571; 36.8%), physically active subtype (n = 185; 21.1%), healthy diet subtype (n = 404; 26.1%), smoking subtype (n = 125; 8.1%) and non-sedentary subtype (n = 265; 17.1%). Compared with the unhealthy subtype, the physically active subtype had lower insulin and HOMA-IR levels, and smoking subtype was associated with lower HDL levels. When compared with children with normal weight, all obesity subtypes had worse cardiometabolic profile, except the physically active subtype who had similar DBP, HbA1c and TC levels; smoking subtype who had similar TC levels; and healthy diet and non-sedentary subtypes who had similar DBP levels. CONCLUSION: Children of different lifestyle-based obesity subtypes might have different cardiometabolic risks. Our new classification system might help personalize assessment of childhood obesity.

Pt-O-Ce interaction enhanced by Al substitution to promote the acetone degradation through accelerating the breaking of CC bond in acetic acid intermediate.

The reaction rate of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) oxidation is controlled by the rate-limiting step in the total reaction process. This study proposes a novel strategy, by which the rate-limiting step of acetone oxidation is accelerated by enhanced chemical bond interaction with more electrons transfer through Al-substituted CeO2 loaded Pt (Pt/Al-CeO2). Results indicate that the rate-limiting step in the process of acetone oxidation is the decomposition of acetic acid. Al substitution enhances the Pt-O-Ce interaction that transfers more electrons from Pt/Al-CeO2 to acetic acid, promoting the breaking of its CC bond with a lower free energy barrier. Attributing to these, the reaction rate of Pt/Al-CeO2 is 13 times as high as that of Pt/CeO2 and its TOFPt value is 11 times as high as that of Pt/CeO2 at 150 °C. Moreover, the CO2 selectivity of Pt/Al-CeO2 also increases by 22 %. This work establishes the relationship between Pt-O-Ce interaction and acetone oxidation that provides novel perspectives on the development of efficient materials for VOCs oxidation.

Association of common maternal infections with birth outcomes: a multinational cohort study.

PURPOSE: It is unclear whether common maternal infections during pregnancy are risk factors for adverse birth outcomes. We assessed the association between self-reported infections during pregnancy with preterm birth and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) in an international cohort consortium. METHODS: Data on 120,507 pregnant women were obtained from six population-based birth cohorts in Australia, Denmark, Israel, Norway, the UK and the USA. Self-reported common infections during pregnancy included influenza-like illness, common cold, any respiratory tract infection, vaginal thrush, vaginal infections, cystitis, urinary tract infection, and the symptoms fever and diarrhoea. Birth outcomes included preterm birth, low birth weight and SGA. Associations between maternal infections and birth outcomes were first assessed using Poisson regression in each cohort and then pooled using random-effect meta-analysis. Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated, adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: Vaginal infections (pooled RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02-1.20) and urinary tract infections (pooled RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.09-1.26) during pregnancy were associated with higher risk of preterm birth. Similar associations with low birth weight were also observed for these two infections. Fever during pregnancy was associated with higher risk of SGA (pooled RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.12). No other significant associations were observed between maternal infections/symptoms and birth outcomes. CONCLUSION: Vaginal infections and urinary infections during pregnancy were associated with a small increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight, whereas fever was associated with SGA. These findings require confirmation in future studies with laboratory-confirmed infection diagnosis.

Weight status changes from childhood to adulthood were associated with cardiometabolic outcomes in adulthood.

AIM: Few studies have assessed the association between weight changes from childhood to adulthood and cardiometabolic factors in adulthood. The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between weight changes from childhood to adulthood and cardiometabolic factors in adulthood using national Chinese data. METHODS: We included 649 participants from the China Health and Nutrition Survey from 1989 to 2009 and divided them into four groups by their body mass index from 6 to 37 years of age. They were selected using multistage random cluster sampling from 15 areas with large variations in economic and social development. Poisson regression models assessed associations between weight status changes and cardiometabolic outcomes in adulthood. RESULTS: The risk of multiple abnormal cardiometabolic outcomes in adulthood was increased in the 126 subjects with normal weight in childhood but overweight or obesity in adulthood and the 28 with obesity at both ages, compared to the 462 with normal weight at both ages. There was insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the 33 who had weight issues as children, but not as adults, had an increased risk. CONCLUSION: Being overweight or obese in both childhood and adulthood or during adulthood only increased the risk of abnormal cardiometabolic outcomes in adulthood. Larger studies need to investigate whether weight problems in childhood, but not adulthood, increase the risk.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma of different etiologies: a retrospective study.

AIMS: This study compared the prevalences of metabolic syndrome and of cardiac or kidney comorbidities among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with metabolic dysfunction-related fatty liver disease (MAFLD), chronic infection with hepatitis B or C virus (HBV or HCV), or the combination of MAFLD and chronic HBV infection. METHODS: Medical records were retrospectively analyzed for patients with HCC who underwent hepatectomy between March 2013 and March 2023. Patients with HCC of different etiologies were compared in terms of their clinicodemographic characteristics and laboratory data before surgery. RESULTS: Of the 2422 patients, 1,822 (75.2%) were chronically infected with HBV without MAFLD and HCV, 415 (17.2%) had concurrent MAFLD and chronic HBV infection but no HCV infection, 121 (5.0%) had MAFLD without hepatitis virus infection, and 64 (2.6%) were chronically infected with HCV in the presence or absence of MAFLD and HBV infection. Compared to patients chronically infected with HBV without MAFLD and HCV, those with MAFLD but no hepatitis virus infection showed significantly lower prevalence of cirrhosis, ascites, portal hypertension, alpha-fetoprotein concentration ≥ 400 ng/mL, tumor size > 5 cm, multinodular tumors and microvascular invasion. Conversely, they showed significantly higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, abdominal obesity, history of cardiovascular disease, T-wave alterations, hypertriglyceridemia and hyperuricemia, as well as higher risk of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Compared to patients with MAFLD but no hepatitis virus infection, those with concurrent MAFLD and chronic infection with HBV showed significantly higher prevalence of cirrhosis, ascites and portal hypertension, but significantly lower prevalence of hypertension and history of cardiovascular disease. Compared to patients with other etiologies, those chronically infected with HCV in the presence or absence of MAFLD and HBV infection, showed significantly higher prevalence of cirrhosis, portal hypertension, ascites, and esophagogastric varices. CONCLUSION: Patients with HCC associated with MAFLD tend to have a background of less severe liver disease than those with HCC of other etiologies, but they may be more likely to suffer metabolic syndrome or comorbidities affecting the heart or kidneys.

Neuroprotective effect of acetoxypachydiol against oxidative stress through activation of the Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Excessive oxidative stress in the brain is an important pathological factor in neurological diseases. Acetoxypachydiol (APHD) is a lipophilic germacrane-type diterpene extracted as a major component from different species of brown algae within the genus Dictyota. There have been no previous reports on the pharmacological activity of APHD. The present research aims to explore the potential neuroprotective properties of APHD and its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: The possible mechanism of APHD was predicted using a combination of molecular docking and network pharmacological analysis. PC12 cells were induced by H2O2 and oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R), respectively. Western blot, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining, and qRT-PCR were used to investigate the antioxidant activity of APHD. The HO-1 inhibitor ZnPP and Nrf2 gene silencing were employed to confirm the influence of APHD on the signaling cascade involving HO-1, Nrf2, and Keap1 in vitro. RESULTS: APHD exhibited antioxidant activity in both PC12 cells subjected to H2O2 and OGD/R conditions by downregulating the release of LDH, the concentrations of MDA, and ROS, and upregulating SOD, GSH-Px, and GSH concentrations. APHD could potentially initiate the Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1 signaling cascade, according to the findings from network pharmacology evaluation and molecular docking. Furthermore, APHD was observed to increase Nrf2 and HO-1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels, while downregulating the protein concentrations of Keap1. Both Nrf2 silencing and treatment with ZnPP reversed the neuroprotective effects of APHD. CONCLUSIONS: APHD activated antioxidant enzymes and downregulated the levels of LDH, MDA, and ROS in two cell models. The neuroprotective effect is presumably reliant on upregulation of the Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Taken together, APHD from brown algae of the genus Dictyota shows potential as a candidate for novel neuroprotective agents.

Predictive value of TCM tongue characteristics for chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in patients with lung cancer.

This study aimed to investigate the clinical predictors, including traditional Chinese medicine tongue characteristics and other clinical parameters for chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression (CIM), and then to develop a clinical prediction model and construct a nomogram. A total of 103 patients with lung cancer were prospectively enrolled in this study. All of them were scheduled to receive first-line chemotherapy regimens. Participants were randomly assigned to either the training group (n = 52) or the test group (n = 51). Tongue characteristics and clinical parameters were collected before the start of chemotherapy, and then the incidence of myelosuppression was assessed after treatment. We used univariate logistic regression analysis to identify the risk predictors for assessing the incidence of CIM. Moreover, we developed a predictive model and a nomogram using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Finally, we evaluated the predictive performance of the model by examining the area under the curve value of the receiver operating characteristic, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis. As a result, a total of 3 independent predictors were found to be associated with the CIM in multivariate regression analysis: the fat tongue (OR = 3.67), Karnofsky performance status score (OR = 0.11), and the number of high-toxic drugs in chemotherapy regimens (OR = 4.78). Then a model was constructed using these 3 predictors and it exhibited a robust predictive performance with an area under the curve of 0.82 and the consistent calibration curves. Besides, the decision curve analysis results suggested that applying this predictive model can result in more net clinical benefit for patients. We established a traditional Chinese medicine prediction model based on the tongue characteristics and clinical parameters, which could serve as a useful tool for assessing the risk of CIM.