Dual-signal ratiometric electrochemiluminescence biosensor based on Au NPs-induced low-potential emission of PFO Pdots and LSPR-ECL mechanism for ultra-sensitive detection of microRNA-141.

In this study, we have for the first time constructed a ratiometric ECL biosensor for the ultrasensitive detection of microRNAs (miRNAs) using gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) to trigger both the low-potential emission from conjugated polymer poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-2,7-diyl) dots (PFO Pdots) and the LSPR-ECL effect with sulfur-doped boron nitride quantum dots (S-BN QDs). PFO Pdots were first applied to the Au NPs-modified electrode, followed by covalent binding to capture the hairpin H1. Immediately thereafter, a small amount of miRNA-141 was able to generate a large amount of output DNA (OP) by traversing the target cycle. OP, H3-S-BN QDs, and H4-glucose oxidase (H4-GOD) were then added sequentially to the Au NPs-modified electrode surface, and the hybridization chain reaction (HCR) was initiated. This resulted in the introduction of a large amount of GOD into the system, which catalyzed the in situ formation of the co-reactant hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from the substrate glucose. Due to the electron transfer effect, the production of H2O2 led to the ECL quenching of PFO Pdots. Meanwhile, H2O2 served as a co-reactant of S-BN QDs, resulting in strong ECL emission of S-BN QDs at the cathode. Furthermore, the cathodic ECL intensity of S-BN QDs was further enhanced by an LSPR-ECL mechanism between Au NPs and S-BN QDs. By measuring the ratio of ECL intensities at two excitation potentials, this approach could provide sensitive and reliable detection of miRNA-141 in the range of 0.1 fM ∼10 nM, with a detection limit of 0.1 fM.

Spatial distribution of bioaerosols and evaluation of four ventilation method on controlling their diffusion in a typical enhanced biosafety level 2 laboratory.

Biosafety laboratories are critical in many fields. However, experimenters associated the infection risk from biological aerosols. In this study, by conducting experiments on the release and collection of bioaerosols within a typical BSL-2 + laboratory, the spatial distribution of bioaerosols was tracked. Numerical calculations were employed to obtain and visualize the airflow patterns and aerosol dispersion paths of four ventilation methods. The results indicated that equipment and tables led to uneven airflow distribution within the laboratory. The comparison results of the four evaluation indicators showed that the air age distribution of UU (Upward supply and upward return) mode and CD (Cross-supply and downward return) mode was superior, with air change efficiency values of 0.595 and 0.603, respectively. Additionally, the contaminant removal index of CD mode was 1.48, significantly higher than the other ventilation methods. The statistical results of the contaminant dispersion index also indicated that CD mode was most conducive to diluting aerosols in the spatial environment. The LD (lateral supply and downward return) mode may lead to airflow short-circuiting. The UD (upward supply and downward return) mode can provide balanced protection for laboratory. Overall, CD mode performed the best among the four ventilation methods, followed by UU mode.

Interacting and joint effects of triglyceride-glucose index and hypertension on stroke risk in middle-aged and older Chinese adults: a population-based prospective cohort study.

Background: Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and hypertension were well-established risk factors for stroke. And TyG index was associated with hypertension. However, no prior study has investigated the interactive effects of the TyG index and hypertension on stroke. This study examined whether hypertension mediates associations of TyG index with incident stroke and the extent of interaction or joint relations of TyG index and hypertension with stroke in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Methods: The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) is an ongoing nationally representative prospective cohort study initiated in 2011. This cohort study included 9,145 middle-aged and older Chinese adults without stroke at baseline. The eposures were TyG index and the logarithmized product of hypertension, as determined during the baseline health examination. The main outcome was self-reported physician-diagnosed stroke which followed up from June 1, 2011, to June 30, 2018. Results: Of the 9,145 participants, 4,251 were men (46.5%); the mean (SD) age was 59.20 (9.33) years. During a median follow-up of 7.1 years, 637 (7.0%) participants developed stroke. In multivariable-adjusted models, the TyG index was significantly associated with the risk of hypertension [odds ratio (OR) per 1-SD increase, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.19-1.41] and stroke [hazard ratio (HR) per 1-SD increase, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.02-1.33]. Both multiplicative and additive interactions were observed between TyG index and hypertension on stroke (HR for multiplicative: 2.34, 95% CI, 1.57-3.48; Synergy index: 4.13, 95% CI, 2.73-6.25). Mediation analysis showed that 20.0% of the association between TyG index and stroke was mediated through hypertension. Conclusions: This study suggests a synergistic effect of TyG index and hypertension on stroke, and a small proportion of the association between TyG index and stroke was mediated by hypertension, indicating the benefit of coordinated control strategies for both exposures.

A Review of Traditional Use, Constituent Analysis, Bioactivity, and Application of Volatile Oils from Elsholtzia.

BACKGROUND: Elsholtzia belongs to the Labiatae family, which consists of herbaceous subshrubs and shrubs. Among them, volatile oils are an important chemical component in Elsholtzia, which have various bioactive medicinal and developmental values. METHODS: The references about volatile oils of Elsholtzia in this review were obtained from Web of Science, SciFinder, PubMed, Willy, Elsevier, SpringLink, ACS publications, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, Scopus, and CNKI. The other information about Elsholtzia was obtained from classical works or ancient books. RESULTS: Traditionally, the volatile oils from Elsholtzia were used in Chinese medicine to treat cholera, abdominal pain, vomiting, and scattered edema. Relevant research revealed that Elsholtzia contains many different types of volatile oils, and most of them display bioactivities, including anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, hypolipidemic, insecticidal, and antiinflammatory activities, treating spleen and stomach. Furthermore, the applications of volatile oils were summarized and analyzed in this paper. CONCLUSION: The contents of traditional use, constituent analysis, bioactivity, and application of volatile oils from Elsholtzia were reviewed in this paper. This will provide important research value and a scientific basis for the in-depth study of the plants of Elsholtzia in the future.

Amphiphilic α-Peptoid-deoxynojirimycin Conjugate-based Multivalent Glycosidase Inhibitor for Hypoglycemic Effect and Fluorescence Imaging.

Multivalent glycosidase inhibitors based on 1-deoxynojirimycin derivatives against α-glucosidases have been rapidly developed. Nonetheless, the mechanism based on self-assembled multivalent glucosidase inhibitors in living systems needs to be further studied. It remains to be determined whether the self-assembly possesses sufficient stability to endure transit through the small intestine and subsequently bind to the glycosidases located therein. In this paper, two amphiphilic compounds, 1-deoxynojirimycin and α-peptoid conjugates (LP-4DNJ-3C and LP-4DNJ-6C), were designed. Their self-assembling behaviors, multivalent α-glucosidase inhibition effect, and fluorescence imaging on living organs were studied. LP-4DNJ-6C exhibited better multivalent α-glucosidase inhibition activities in vitro. Moreover, the self-assembly of LP-4DNJ-6C could effectively form a complex with Nile red. The complex showed fluorescence quenching effect upon binding with α-glucosidases and exhibited potent fluorescence imaging in the small intestine. This result suggests that a multivalent hypoglycemic effect achieved through self-assembly in the intestine is a viable approach, enabling the rational design of multivalent hypoglycemic drugs.

Phyllanthus emblica Linn: A comprehensive review of botany, traditional uses, phytonutrients, health benefits, quality markers, and applications.

Phyllanthus emblica Linn is not only an edible fruit with high nutritional value, but also a medicinal plant with multiple bioactivities. It is widely used in clinical practice with functions of clearing heat, cooling blood, digesting food, strengthening stomach, promoting fluid production, and relieving cough. This review summarized a wide variety of phytonutrients, including nutritional components (mineral elements, amino acids, vitamins, polysaccharides, unsaturated free fatty acids) and functional components (phenolic acids (1-34), tannins (35-98), flavonoids (99-141), sterols (142-159), triterpenoids (160-175), lignans (176-183), alkaloids (184-197), alkanes (198-212), aromatic micromolecules (213-222), other compounds (223-239)). The isolated compounds and the various extracts of P. emblica Linn presented a diverse spectrum of biological activities such as anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, anti-atherosclerosis, neuroprotective, enhancing immunity, anti-fatigue, anti-myocardial fibrosis. The quality markers of P. emblica Linn were predicted and analyzed based on traditional medicinal properties, traditional efficacy, plant genealogy and chemical component characteristics, biogenic pathway of chemical components, measurability of chemical components, transformation characteristics of polyphenolic components, homologous characteristics of medicine and food, compound compatibility environment, and clinical applications. This review also summarized and prospected applications of P. emblica Linn in beverages, preserved fruits, fermented foods, etc. However, the contents of mechanism, structure-activity relationship, quality control, toxicity, extraction, processing of P. emblica Linn are not clear, and are worth further studies in the future.

Prognostic value of aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio in hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic significance of the aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio in hepatocellular carcinoma remains uncertain. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the association between the AST/ALT ratio and prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy, and to explore the role of underlying liver diseases as mediators. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent hepatectomy between January 2014 and January 2018 at two Chinese hospitals. The maximally selected rank statistic and g-computation approach were used to quantify and visualize the association between the AST/ALT ratio and overall survival or recurrence-free survival. The role of mediators (chronic hepatitis B, hepatic steatosis and liver cirrhosis) was analysed. RESULTS: Among the 1519 patients (mean(s.d.) age at baseline, 50.5(11.3) years), 1309 (86.2%) were male. During a median follow-up of 46.0 months, 514 (33.8%) patients died and 358 (23.6%) patients experienced recurrence. The optimal cut-off value for the AST/ALT ratio was 1.4, and the AST/ALT ratio greater than or equal to 1.4 was independently associated with a 39.0% increased risk of death and a 30.0% increased risk of recurrence (overall survival: hazard ratio (HR), 1.39; 95% c.i. 1.15 to 1.68; recurrence-free survival: HR, 1.30; 95% c.i. 1.12 to 1.52) after adjusting for confounders. Chronic hepatitis B significantly mediated the association of the ratio of AST/ALT with both overall survival and recurrence-free survival (20.3% for overall survival; 20.1% for recurrence-free survival). CONCLUSION: The AST/ALT ratio greater than or equal to 1.4 was associated with shorter overall survival and recurrence-free survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy, and chronic hepatitis B may play a role in their association.

Susceptibility and exposure risk to airborne aerosols in intra-urban microclimate: Evidence from subway system of mega-cities.

The health of intra-urban population in modern megacities relies largely on the biosafety within the microclimate of subway system, which can be vulnerable to epidemical challenges brought by virus-laden bioaerosols under varying factors. The literature has yet to address the association between the exposure risks to infectious pathogens and the dynamic changes of boundary conditions in this densely populated microclimate. This study aims at characterizing the bioaerosol dispersion, evaluating the exposure risks under various train arrival scenarios and hazard releasing positions in a real-world double-decker subway station. The results provide the evidence for the dominating airflow pattern, bioaerosols dispersion behaviors, exposure risk, and evacuation guidance in a representative microclimate of mega-cities. The tunnel effects of nearby pedestrian passageways are found to be dominating the airflow pattern, leading to the discharging of airborne bioaerosols. At least 60 % increasing of discharging rate of bioaerosol is attributed to the arrival of one or two trains at the subway platform compared with the scenario with no train arriving. Results from risk assessment with improved Wells-Riley model estimate 57.62 % of maximum infectivity probability with no train arriving. Large areas near the source at the platform floor still cannot be considered safe within 20 min. For the other two scenarios where trains arrive at the platform, the maximum probability of infection is below 5 %. Moreover, the majority of train carriages can be regarded as safe zones, as the ventilation across the screen door are mostly directed towards the platform. Additionally, releasing the bioaerosols at the platform floor poses the most severe threats to human health, and the corresponding evacuation strategies are suggested. These findings offer practical guidance for the design of the intra-urban microclimate, reinforcing the need for exposure reduction device or contingency plans, and providing potential evacuation strategy towards improved health outcomes.

Interacting and joint effects of triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) and body mass index on stroke risk and the mediating role of TyG in middle-aged and older Chinese adults: a nationwide prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Individuals who are overweight or obese often develop insulin resistance, mediation of the association between body mass index (BMI) and stroke risk through the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) seems plausible but has not been investigated. This study aims to examine whether TyG mediates associations of BMI with stroke risk and the extent of interaction or joint relations of TyG and BMI with stroke outcome. METHODS: The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, initiated in 2011, is a nationally representative, ongoing prospective cohort study involving 8 231 middle-aged and older Chinese adults without a stroke history at baseline. Exposures examined include BMI and the TyG, the latter being the logarithmized product of fasting triglyceride and glucose concentrations. The primary study outcome is stroke incidence, as determined through self-reports, with a follow-up period extending from June 1, 2011, to June 30, 2018. RESULTS: Of the 8 231 participants, 3 815 (46.3%) were men; mean (SD) age was 59.23 (9.32) years. During a median follow-up of 7.1 years, 585 (7.1%) participants developed stroke. The TyG was found to mediate the association between BMI and incident stroke, proportions mediated were 16.3% for BMI in the 24.0-27.9 kg/m2 group and 53.8% for BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m2 group. No significant multiplicative and additive interactions were found between BMI and TyG on incident stroke (Additive: RERI = 1.78, 95% CI - 1.29-4.86; Multiplicative, HR = 1.40, 95% CI 0.86-2.27). HRs for individuals with BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m2 and quartile 4 of TyG compared with those with BMI < 24.0 kg/m2 and quartile 1 of TyG were 2.05 (95% CI 1.37-3.06) for incident stroke. Combining BMI and TyG enhanced predictive performance for stroke when compared to their individual (AUCBMI+TyG vs AUCBMI vs AUCTyG, 0.602 vs 0.581 vs 0.583). CONCLUSIONS: TyG appeared to be associated with stroke risk and mediates more than 50% of the total association between BMI and stroke in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Public health efforts aiming at the reduction of body weight might decrease the stroke risk due to insulin resistance and the burden of stroke.

Noninvasive Diagnostic Technique for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Based on Features of Tongue Images.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a new noninvasive diagnostic model for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) based on features of tongue images. METHODS: Healthy controls and volunteers confirmed to have NAFLD by liver ultrasound were recruited from China-Japan Friendship Hospital between September 2018 and May 2019, then the anthropometric indexes and sampled tongue images were measured. The tongue images were labeled by features, based on a brief protocol, without knowing any other clinical data, after a series of corrections and data cleaning. The algorithm was trained on images using labels and several anthropometric indexes for inputs, utilizing machine learning technology. Finally, a logistic regression algorithm and a decision tree model were constructed as 2 diagnostic models for NAFLD. RESULTS: A total of 720 subjects were enrolled in this study, including 432 patients with NAFLD and 288 healthy volunteers. Of them, 482 were randomly allocated into the training set and 238 into the validation set. The diagnostic model based on logistic regression exhibited excellent performance: in validation set, it achieved an accuracy of 86.98%, sensitivity of 91.43%, and specificity of 80.61%; with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.93 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68-0.98]. The decision tree model achieved an accuracy of 81.09%, sensitivity of 91.43%, and specificity of 66.33%; with an AUC of 0.89 (95% CI 0.66-0.92) in validation set. CONCLUSIONS: The features of tongue images were associated with NAFLD. Both the 2 diagnostic models, which would be convenient, noninvasive, lightweight, rapid, and inexpensive technical references for early screening, can accurately distinguish NAFLD and are worth further study.

Study on the flow mechanism and frequency characteristics of rales in lower respiratory tract.

The frequency characteristics of lung sounds have great significance for noninvasive diagnosis of respiratory diseases. The rales in the lower respiratory tract region that can provide rich information about symptoms of respiratory diseases are not clear. In this paper, a three-dimensional idealized bifurcated lower respiratory tract geometric model, which contains 3rd to 13th generation (G3-G13) bronchi is constructed, where Re ∼ 10 1 - 10 3 , and then the large eddy simulation and volume of fluid are used to study the fluid flow characteristics. Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings model are subsequently used to study the frequency characteristics of rale of different generations of bronchi. The results showed that bronchial blockage and sputum movement will enhance the turbulence intensity and vortex shedding intensity of flow. The dominant frequency and highest value of sound pressure level (SPL) of rhonchi/moist crackles decrease with the increase of bronchial generation. The change rates of dominant frequency of rhonchi / moist crackles in adjacent generations were 5.0 ± 0.1 ~ 9.1 ± 0.2% and 3.1 ± 0.1 ~ 11.9 ± 0.3%, respectively, which is concentrated in 290 ~ 420 Hz and 200 ~ 300 Hz, respectively. The change rates of SPL of rhonchi/moist crackles were 8.8 ± 0.1 ~ 15.7 ± 0.1% and 7.1 ± 0.1 ~ 19.5 ± 0.2%, respectively, which is concentrated in 28 ~ 50 dB and 16 ~ 32 dB, respectively. In the same generation of bronchus (e.g., G8, G9) with the same degree of initial blockage, the dominant frequency and SPL of moist crackles can be 3.7 ± 0.2% and 4.5 ± 0.3% slightly higher than that of rhonchi, respectively. This research is conducive to the establishment of a rapid and accurate noninvasive diagnosis system for respiratory diseases.

Nucleolus imaging based on naphthalimide derivatives.

Nucleolus was an important cellular organelle. The abnormal morphology and number of the nucleolus have been considered as diagnostic biomarkers for some human diseases. However, the imaging agent based on nucleolus was limited. In this manuscript, a series of nucleolar fluorescent probes based on naphthalimide derivatives (NI-1 âˆ¼ NI-5) had been designed and synthesized. NI-1 âˆ¼ NI-5 could penetrate cell membranes and nuclear membranes, achieve clear nucleolar staining in living cells. These results suggested that the presence of amino groups on the side chains of naphthalimide backbone could enhance the targeting to the cell nucleolus. In addition, the molecular docking results showed that NI-1 âˆ¼ NI-5 formed hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions with RNA, and exhibited enhanced fluorescence upon binding with RNA. These results will provide favorable support for the diagnosis and treatment of nucleolus-related diseases in the future.

Aggravated exposure risks of children to multipath transmitted pathogens in indoor environments.

Considering the significance of multipath transmissions of respiratory pathogens in the post-epidemic era, surprisingly little is acknowledged regarding the susceptibility, short-term aerodynamics, and exposure risk of children in indoor environments. Here, experimental and computational investigations were conducted to evaluate the exposure risks associated with respiratory pathogens. The dominant effect of recirculation structure originating from indoor ventilation, including air supply modes and air change rate, on aerosol dispersion was quantitatively proved. A large proportion of deposited aerosol particles was captured by the human body, and deposited particles may further increase under high air change rate, which required a balanced ventilation strategy. Little discrepancies existed between adults and children in exposure risk by airborne transmission. The infection probability by contact transmission for children, however, may be surprisingly high due to high frequency in interactive activities, deposition on upper and lower limbs of accompanying parents, and the wall within arm span.

The sources, properties, extraction, biosynthesis, pharmacology, and application of lycopene.

Lycopene is an important pigment with an alkene skeleton from Lycopersicon esculentum, which is also obtained from some red fruits and vegetables. Lycopene is used in the food field with rich functions and serves in the medical field with multiple clinical values because it has dual functions of both medicine and food. It was found that lycopene was mainly isolated by solvent extraction, ultrasonic-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, high-intensity pulsed electric field-assisted extraction, enzymatic-assisted extraction, and microwave-assisted extraction. Meanwhile, it was also obtained via 2 synthetic pathways: chemical synthesis and biosynthesis. Pharmacological studies revealed that lycopene has anti-oxidant, hypolipidemic, anti-cancer, immunity-enhancing, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, cardiovascular-protective, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and osteoporosis-inhibiting effects. The application of lycopene mainly includes food processing, animal breeding, and medical cosmetology fields. It is hoped that this review will provide some useful information and guidance for future study and exploitation of lycopene.

Changes in the triglyceride glucose-body mass index estimate the risk of stroke in middle-aged and older Chinese adults: a nationwide prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Stroke was reported to be highly correlated with the triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI). Nevertheless, literature exploring the association between changes in the TyG-BMI and stroke incidence is scant, with most studies focusing on individual values of the TyG-BMI. We aimed to investigate whether changes in the TyG-BMI were associated with stroke incidence. METHODS: Data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), which is an ongoing nationally representative prospective cohort study. The exposures were changes in the TyG-BMI and cumulative TyG-BMI from 2012 to 2015. Changes in the TyG-BMI were classified using K-means clustering analysis, and the cumulative TyG-BMI was calculated as follows: (TyG-BMI2012 + TyG-BMI2015)/2 × time (2015-2012). Logistic regressions were used to determine the association between different TyG-BMI change classes and stroke incidence. Meanwhile, restricted cubic spline regression was applied to examine the potential nonlinear association of the cumulative TyG-BMI and stroke incidence. Weighted quantile sum regression was used to provide a comprehensive explanation of the TyG-BMI by calculating the weights of FBG, triglyceride-glucose (TG), and BMI. RESULTS: Of the 4583 participants (mean [SD] age at baseline, 58.68 [9.51] years), 2026 (44.9%) were men. During the 3 years of follow-up, 277 (6.0%) incident stroke cases were identified. After adjusting for potential confounders, compared to the participants with a consistently low TyG-BMI, the OR for a moderate TyG-BMI with a slow rising trend was 1.01 (95% CI 0.65-1.57), the OR for a high TyG-BMI with a slow rising trend was 1.62 (95% CI 1.11-2.32), and the OR for the highest TyG-BMI with a slow declining trend was 1.71 (95% CI 1.01-2.89). The association between the cumulative TyG-BMI and stroke risk was nonlinear (Passociation = 0.017; Pnonlinearity = 0.012). TG emerged as the primary contributor when the weights were assigned to the constituent elements of the TyG-BMI (weight2012 = 0.466; weight2015 = 0.530). CONCLUSIONS: Substantial changes in the TyG-BMI are independently associated with the risk of stroke in middle-aged and older adults. Monitoring long-term changes in the TyG-BMI may assist with the early identification of individuals at high risk of stroke.

Reducing airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by an upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation system in a hospital isolation environment.

Upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) technology can potentially inhibit the transmission of airborne disease pathogens. There is a lack of quantitative evaluation of the performance of the upper-room UVGI for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) airborne transmission under the combined effects of ventilation and UV irradiation. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the performance of the upper-room UVGI system for reducing SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission in a hospital isolation environment. Computational fluid dynamics and virological data on SARS-CoV-2 were integrated to obtain virus aerosol exposure in the hospital isolation environment containing buffer rooms, wards and bathrooms. The UV inactivation model was applied to investigate the effects of ventilation rate, irradiation flux and irradiation height on the upper-room UVGI performance. The results showed that increasing ventilation rate from 8 to 16 air changes per hour (ACH) without UVGI obtained 54.32% and 45.63% virus reduction in the wards and bathrooms, respectively. However, the upper-room UVGI could achieve 90.43% and 99.09% virus disinfection, respectively, with the ventilation rate of 8 ACH and the irradiation flux of 10 µW cm-2. Higher percentage of virus could be inactivated by the upper-room UVGI at a lower ventilation rate; the rate of improvement of UVGI elimination effect slowed down with the increase of irradiation flux. Increase irradiation height at lower ventilation rate was more effective in improving the UVGI performance than the increase in irradiation flux at smaller irradiation height. These results could provide theoretical support for the practical application of UVGI in hospital isolation environments.

Adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors associated with higher recurrence-free survival in postoperative hepatocellular carcinoma (PREVENT): a prospective, multicentric cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Adjuvant therapy may improve survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection. This study compared safety and efficacy outcomes between patients at high risk of recurrence who received different types of adjuvant therapy or no such therapy after hepatic resection for HCC. METHODS: Recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival, and adverse events were compared among patients who received adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) alone, ICIs with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), or no adjuvant therapy between 13 March 2019 and 19 March 2022. This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05221398). RESULTS: Of the 517 patients in final analysis, 432 (83.6%) received no adjuvant therapy, 53 (10.2%) received ICIs alone, and 32 (6.2%) received adjuvant ICIs and TKIs. During median follow-up of 34.0 months (IQR 27.8 to 41.6 months), RFS was significantly longer among patients who received either type of adjuvant therapy (25.2 months, 95%CI 16.4-34.0) than among those who received none (16.1 months, 95%CI 12.9-19.4), and this difference remained significant after propensity score matching (HR 0.52, 95%CI 0.35-0.76, P = 0.004). Overall survival was unaffected by either type of adjuvant therapy, while significant difference was observed between patients who received adjuvant therapy or not after propensity score matching (HR 0.31, 95%CI 0.17-0.59, P = 0.005). The rate of grade 3 or 4 adverse events was similar between the two types of adjuvant therapy. CONCLUSIONS: ICIs alone or with TKIs may improve RFS of patients at high risk of HCC recurrence after curative resection.

Vicatia thibetica de Boiss: Botany, Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Quantitative Analysis, and Pharmacology.

BACKGROUND: Vicatia thibetica de Boiss is a common Tibetan medicine used for both medicine and food, belonging to the family Apiaceae. This plant has the functions of dispelling wind, removing dampness, dispersing cold, and relieving pain. It has great development potential and application prospects in food development and medicinal value. METHODS: The related references on botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, quantitative analysis, and pharmacology of V. thibetica de Boiss had been retrieved from both online and offline databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Elsevier, Willy, SpringLink, SciFinder, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, ACS publications, SciHub, Scopus, and CNKI. RESULTS: V. thibetica de Boiss exerts nourishing, appetizing, and digestive effects according to the theory of Tibetan medicine. Phytochemical reports have revealed that V. thibetica de Boiss contains flavonoids, coumarins, sterols, and organic acids. Meanwhile, the quantitative analysis of the chemical constituents of V. thibetica de Boiss has been done by means of UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. It has also been found that V. thibetica de Boiss possesses multiple pharmacological activities, including anti-fatigue, anti-oxidant, anti-aging, and non-toxic activities. CONCLUSION: This paper has comprehensively summarized botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, quantitative analysis, and pharmacology of V. thibetica de Boiss. It will not only provide an important clue for further studying V. thibetica de Boiss, but also offer an important theoretical basis and valuable reference for in-depth research and exploitation of this plant in the future.

Validation studies on migraine diagnostic tools for use in nonclinical settings: a systematic review / Estudos de validação de ferramentas de diagnóstico de enxaqueca (migrânea) para uso em ambientes não clínicos: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract Background Migraine underdiagnosis and undertreatment are so widespread, that hence is essential to diagnose migraine sufferers in nonclinical settings. A systematic review of validation studies on migraine diagnostic tools applicable to nonclinical settings can help researchers and practitioners in tool selection decisions. Objective To systematically review and critically assess published validation studies on migraine diagnostic tools for use in nonclinical settings, as well as to describe their diagnostic performance. Methods A multidisciplinary workgroup followed transparent and systematic procedures to collaborate on this work. PubMed, Medline, and Web of Science were searched for studies up to January 17, 2022. The QUADAS-2 was employed to assess methodological quality, and the quality thresholds adopted by the Global Burden Disease study were used to tail signaling questions. Results From 7,214 articles identified, a total of 27 studies examining 19 tools were eligible for inclusion. There has been no high-quality evidence to support any tool for use of migraine diagnosis in nonclinical settings. The diagnostic accuracy of the ID-migraine, structured headache and HARDSHIP questionnaires have been supported by moderate-quality evidence, with sensitivity and specificity above 70%. Of them, the HARDSHIP questionnaire has been the most extensively validated. The remaining 16 tools have provided poor-quality evidence for migraine diagnosis in nonclinical populations. Conclusions Up till now, the HARDSHIP questionnaire is the optimal choice for diagnosing migraine in nonclinical settings, with satisfactory diagnostic accuracy supported by moderate methodological quality. This work reveals the crucial next step, which is further high-quality validation studies in diverse nonclinical population groups.

Resumo Antecedentes O sub-diagnóstico e o subtratamento da enxaqueca são tão difundidos que, portanto, é essencial para diagnosticar os portadores de enxaqueca em ambientes não-clínicos. Uma revisão sistemática dos estudos de validação das ferramentas de diagnóstico da enxaqueca aplicáveis a ambientes não-clínicos pode ajudar os pesquisadores e profissionais nas decisões de seleção de ferramentas. Objetivo Revisar sistematicamente e avaliar criticamente estudos de validação publicados sobre ferramentas de diagnóstico da enxaqueca para uso em ambientes não-clínicos, bem como descrever seu desempenho diagnóstico. Métodos Um grupo de trabalho multidisciplinar seguiu procedimentos transparentes e sistemáticos para colaborar neste trabalho. PubMed, Medline e Web of Science foram pesquisados por estudos até 17 de janeiro de 2022. O QUADAS-2 foi empregado para avaliar a qualidade metodológica, e os limites de qualidade adotados pelo estudo da Global Burden Disease foram usados para responder a questões de sinalização. Resultados De 7.214 artigos identificados, um total de 27 estudos examinando 19 ferramentas foram elegíveis para inclusão. Não houve evidência de alta qualidade para apoiar qualquer ferramenta para o uso de diagnóstico de enxaqueca em ambientes não clínicos. A precisão diagnóstica do ID-Migraine, questionário de dor de cabeça estruturada e questionário HARDSHIP foram apoiados por evidências de qualidade moderada, com sensibilidade e especificidade acima de 70%. Deles, o questionário HARDSHIP foi o mais amplamente validado. As 16 ferramentas restantes forneceram provas de má qualidade para o diagnóstico de enxaqueca em populações não-clínicas. Conclusões Até agora, o questionário HARDSHIP é a escolha ideal para o diagnóstico da enxaqueca em ambientes não-clínicos, com precisão diagnóstica satisfatória apoiada por uma qualidade metodológica moderada. Este trabalho revela o próximo passo crucial, que é a realização de mais estudos de validação de alta qualidade em diversos grupos populacionais não-clínicos.

Hippophae rhamnoides L.: A Comprehensive Review on the Botany, Traditional Uses, Phytonutrients, Health Benefits, Quality Markers, and Applications.

Hippophae rhamnoides L. (sea buckthorn), consumed as a food and health supplement worldwide, has rich nutritional and medicinal properties. Different parts of H. rhamnoides L. were used in traditional Chinese medicines for relieving cough, aiding digestion, invigorating blood circulation, and alleviating pain since ancient times. Phytochemical studies revealed a wide variety of phytonutrients, including nutritional components (proteins, minerals, vitamins, etc.) and functional components like flavonoids (1-99), lignans (100-143), volatile oils (144-207), tannins (208-230), terpenoids (231-260), steroids (261-270), organic acids (271-297), and alkaloids (298-305). The pharmacological studies revealed that some crude extracts or compounds of H. rhamnoides L. demonstrated various health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anticardiovascular disease, anticancer, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, neuroprotective, antibacterial activities, and their effective doses and experimental models were summarized and analyzed in this paper. The quality markers (Q-markers) of H. rhamnoides L. were predicted and analyzed based on protobotanical phylogeny, traditional medicinal properties, expanded efficacy, pharmacokinetics and metabolism, and component testability. The applications of H. rhamnoides L. in juice, wine, oil, ferment, and yogurt were also summarized and future prospects were examined in this review. However, the mechanism and structure-activity relationship of some active compounds are not clear, and quality control and potential toxicity are worth further study in the future.