Novel trans-Resveratrol Derivatives: Design, Synthesis, Antibacterial Activity, and Mechanisms.

Rice bacterial leaf blight and rice bacterial leaf streak have induced tremendous damage to production of rice worldwide. To discover an effective novel antibacterial agent, a series of novel trans-resveratrol (RSV) derivatives containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole and amide moieties were designed and synthesized for the first time. Most of them showed excellent antibacterial activities against Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzicola and Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae. Especially, compound J12 had the best inhibitory with the half-maximal effective concentration values of 4.2 and 5.0 mg/L, respectively, which were better than that of RSV (63.7 and 75.4 mg/L), bismerthiazol (79.5 and 89.6 mg/L), and thiodiazole copper (105.4 and 112.8 mg/L). Furthermore, compound J12 had an excellent control effect against rice bacterial leaf streak and rice bacterial leaf blight, with protective activities of 46.2 and 42.1% and curative activities of 44.5 and 41.7%, respectively. Preliminary mechanisms indicated that compound J12 could not only remarkably decrease biofilm formation, extracellular polysaccharide production, and the synthesis of extracellular enzymes but also destroy bacterial cell surface morphology, thereby reducing the pathogenicity of bacteria. In addition, compound J12 could increase the activity of defense-related enzymes and affect the expression of multiple pathogenic-related genes including plant-pathogen interaction, the MAPK signaling pathway, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and this could improve the defense of rice against rice bacterial leaf streak infection. The present work indicates that the RSV derivatives can be used as promising candidates for the development of antibacterial agents.

Associations and attributable burdens in late-life exposure to PM2.5 and its major components and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults: A nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Depression in late life has been associated with reduced quality of life and increased mortality. Whether the chronic fine particular matter (PM2.5) and its components exposure are contributed to the older depression symptoms remains unclear. METHOD: Middle-aged and older adults (>45 years) were selected from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study during the four waves of interviews. The concentrations of PM2.5 and its major constituents were calculated using near real-time data at a spatial resolution of 10 km during the study period. The depressive symptom was evaluated by the Depression Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D)-10 score. The fix-effect model was applied to evaluate the association between PM2.5 and its major constituents with depressive symptoms. Three three-step methods were used to explore the modification role of sleep duration against the depressive symptoms caused by PM2.5 exposure. RESULTS: In our study, a total of 52,683 observations of 16,681 middle-aged and older adults were assessed. Each interquartile range (IQR) level of PM2.5 concentration exposure was longitudinally associated with a 2.6 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.3 %, 4.0 %) increase in the depression CES-D-10 score. Regarding the major components of PM2.5, OM, NO3-, and NH4+ showed the leading toxicity effects, which could increase the depression CES-D-10 score by 2.2 % (95 %CI: 1.0 %, 3.4 %), 2.2 % (0.6 %, 3.9 %), and 2.0 % (95 %CI: 0.6 %, 3.4 %) correspondingly. Besides, males were more susceptible to the worse depressive symptoms caused by PM2.5 and its major components exposure than female subpopulations. Shortened sleep duration might be the mediator of PM2.5-associated depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that long-term exposure to PM2.5 and its major components were associated with an increased risk for depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults. Reducing the leading components of PM2.5 may cost-effectively alleviate the disease burden of depression and promote healthy longevity in heavy pollutant countries.

Efficacy and Safety of Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cell Therapy for Ischemic Stroke: Evidence from Network Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Several types of stem cells are available for the treatment of stroke patients. However, the optimal type of stem cell remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of bone marrow-derived stem cell therapy in patients with ischemic stroke by integrating all available direct and indirect evidence in network meta-analyses. METHODS: We searched several databases to identify randomized clinical trials comparing clinical outcomes of bone marrow-derived stem cell therapy vs. conventional treatment in stroke patients. Pooled relative risks (RRs) and mean differences (MDs) were reported. The surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) was used to rank the probabilities of each agent regarding different outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, 11 trials with 576 patients were eligible for analysis. Three different therapies, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), mononuclear stem cells (MNCs), and multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs), were assessed. The direct analysis demonstrated that stem cell therapy was associated with significantly reduced all-cause mortality rates (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.93; I2=0%). Network analysis demonstrated MSCs ranked first in reducing mortality (RR 0.42, 95% CrI 0.15 to 0.86) and improving modified Rankin Scale score (MD -0.59 95% CI -1.09 to -0.09), with SUCRA values 80%, and 98%, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed intravenous transplantation was superior to conventional therapy in reducing all-cause mortality (RR 0.53, 95% CrI 0.29 to 0.88). CONCLUSION: Using stem cell transplantation was associated with reduced risk of death and improved functional outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke. Additional large trials are warranted to provide more conclusive evidence.

Metal-organic frameworks-derived oxalate ligand modified NiCo hydroxides for enhanced electrochemical glycerol oxidation reaction.

Glycerol oxidation reaction can be substituted for oxygen evolution reaction for more efficient hydrogen production due to its lower thermodynamic potential. Herein, a series of NiCo hydroxide nanosheets containing abundant Ni3+ species and surface ligands were synthesized by in-situ structural transformation of bimetallic organic frameworks in alkaline media for efficient glycerol oxidation reaction. It is found that the incorporation of Co ions increases the content of the Ni3+ species, and that the Ni/Co ratio of 1.0 lead to the optimal catalytic performance. The oxalate-modified nickel-cobalt hydroxide with the optimized Ni/Co ratio can deliver a current density of 10 mA cm-2 at 1.26 V vs. RHE (reversible hydrogen electrode), and reaches its maximum selectivity and Faradaic efficiency at 1.30 V vs. RHE. A high selectivity of 82.9% and a Faradaic efficiency of 91.0% are achieved. The high catalytic activity can be mainly attributed to the abundant Ni3+ species and surface carboxyl groups.

Identifying the causal effects of long-term exposure to PM2.5 and ground surface ozone on individual medical costs in China-evidence from a representative longitudinal nationwide cohort.

BACKGROUND: There is little evidence on whether PM2.5 and ground surface ozone have consistent effects on increased individual medical costs, and there is a lack of evidence on causality in developing countries. METHODS: This study utilized balanced panel data from 2014, 2016, and 2018 waves of the Chinese Family Panel Study. The Tobit model was developed within a counterfactual causal inference framework, combined with a correlated random effects and control function approach (Tobit-CRE-CF), to explore the causal relationship between long-term exposure to air pollution and medical costs. We also explored whether different air pollutants exhibit comparable effects. RESULTS: This study encompassed 8928 participants and assessed various benchmark models, highlighting the potential biases from failing to account for air pollution endogeneity or overlooking respondents without medical costs. Using the Tobit-CRE-CF model, significant effects of air pollutants on increased individual medical costs were identified. Specifically, margin effects for PM2.5 and ground-level ozone signifying that a unit increase in PM2.5 and ground-level ozone results in increased total medical costs of 199.144 and 75.145 RMB for individuals who incurred fees in the previous year, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results imply that long-term exposure to air pollutants contributes to increased medical costs for individuals, offering valuable insights for policymakers aiming to mitigate air pollution's consequences.

Amorphous chromium oxide confined Ni/NiO nanoparticles-assembled nanosheets for highly efficient and stable overall urea splitting.

Applications of urea oxidation reaction (UOR) in various sustainable energy-conversion systems are greatly hindered by its slow kinetics. Herein, we demonstrate an in-situ confined synthesis method that produces amorphous chromium oxide confined Ni/NiO nanoparticles-assembled nanosheets (Ni/NiO@CrOx) with fast reaction kinetics towards UOR. The confinement effect of the in-situ generated CrOx overlay contributes to ultrafine Ni/NiO nanoparticles, bringing about rich Ni/NiO and NiO/CrOx interfaces. In-situ Raman and electrochemical characterization show that both CrOx and metallic Ni can promote the formation of the NiOOH species and the electron transfer, leading to high intrinsic activity and fast reaction kinetics. At 1.40 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, the Ni/NiO@CrOx delivers a current density of 275 mA cm-2, which is about 2.6 and 6.1 times as large as those of the NiO@CrOx and NiO, respectively. In addition, the protective effect of the CrOx overlay leads to robust working stability towards UOR. Further, the Ni/NiO@CrOx nanosheets are used as bifunctional catalysts for overall urea splitting, and a small electrolysis cell voltage of 1.44 V is needed to reach the benchmark current density of 10 mA cm-2.

Surgical technique of temporal muscle resuspension during cranioplasty for minimizing temporal hollowing: A case series.

Background: Temporal hollowing is a common but often overlooked complication following cranioplasty. To minimize temporal hollowing caused by temporal muscle contraction, we present the novel technique for temporal muscle resuspension during cranioplasty. Methods: This is a retrospective case series which were done by a single surgeon at our university tertiary-A hospital between January 2019 and February 2020. The surgical technique was performed according to the forms of temporal muscle based on preoperative 3-D reconstruction and intraoperative images. All patients were followed up and evaluated on esthetic and functional outcomes. Results: 17 patients with an average age of 39.35 years, frontotemporoparietal cranial defect size of 78.85 cm2, and median follow-up of 7 months were included. The main cause of decompressive craniectomy was trauma (n = 15). Techniques of temporal muscle augmentative resuspension were performed. The follow-up esthetic and functional outcome evaluation showed that all patients had good postoperative results. No revision surgery was found among the patients. Conclusions: This study proposes methods of temporal muscle augmentative resuspension based on forms of the muscle. We believe this might be of use in minimizing temporal hollowing after cranioplasty.

Effect of corticosteroids in patients with COVID-19: a Bayesian network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to perform a network meta-analysis to compare the safety and efficacy of the systemic administration of corticosteroids for the treatment of COVID-19. METHODS: A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed to combine the direct and indirect evidence. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve was obtained to estimate the ranking probability of the treatment agents for each outcome. The efficacy outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality. The safety outcome was serious adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 16 trials with 2992 patients comparing four treatments (dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, and placebo) were identified. Direct analysis showed that corticosteroids were associated with a reduced risk of 28-day mortality compared with usual care (risk ratio [RR] 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CrI] 0.70-0.99). Network analysis showed that the pooled RR was 0.63 (95% CrI 0.39-0.93) for all-cause mortality at 28 days comparing methylprednisolone with usual care or placebo (surface under the cumulative ranking curve: 91%). Our analysis demonstrated that patients who received a low dose of corticosteroids (RR 0.80; 95% CrI 0.70-0.91) and a long course of treatment (RR 0.81; 95% CrI 0.71-0.91) had higher survival rates than patients in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Administration of corticosteroids was associated with a reduced all-cause mortality at 28 days compared with placebo or usual care. Our analysis also confirmed the mortality benefit associated with low-dose and long-term treatment with corticosteroids.

A Novel Bio-Inspired Ag/3D-TiO2/Si SERS Substrate with Ordered Moth-like Structure.

This paper reports a novel method to fabricate a bio-inspired SERS substrate with low reflectivity, ultra-sensitivity, excellent uniformity, and recyclability. First, double layers of polystyrene spheres with different particle sizes were assembled on the surface of a silicon wafer to act as a moth-like template. Second, through the template sacrifice method, the TiO2 film with a three-dimensional moth-like eye structure was induced by the double-layer polystyrene spheres in the previous step, and its microscopic morphology showed a high degree of order. Finally, Ag nanoparticles were assembled on the TiO2 film to form a bio-inspired SERS substrate. This ordered bio-inspired structure can not only reduce reflection, but also reinforce the uniformity of hotspot density, which helps to improve the sensitivity and uniformity of the Raman signal. This bio-inspired SERS substrate can detect R6G molecules at a concentration as low as 1.0 × 10-10 mol/L, and its enhancement factor (EF) can reach 6.56 × 106. In addition, the composite of Ag and TiO2 can realize the photocatalytic degradation of R6G and then realize the recyclability of the SERS substrate.

High-Efficiency Photo-Thermo-Electric System with Waste Heat Utilization and Energy Storage.

In a photo-thermo-electric system, solar energy is first converted into heat and then into electrical energy, which has attracted much attention. However, the heat of the cold side of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) is generally removed by an air-cooling or water-cooling technology without being fully utilized, resulting in a low solar energy utilization efficiency. Here, we designed an integrated system composed of a photo-thermo-electric conversion part and a waste energy collection part. In this system, one carbon foam (CF) doped with PPy and PEG is used as a layer for photothermal conversion and energy storage, and the other CF─where one side was hydrophobically modified─is used for the storage of cooling water and the recovery of waste heat. The two CF layers contact the hot and cold sides of TEG, respectively. With the system, solar energy can be converted into heat and then electricity for TEG. On the other hand, waste heat can be utilized for seawater desalination by the process of water evaporation. In addition, the integrated system can work sustainably under intermittent light conditions. With the recovery of waste heat, the solar energy utilization efficiency in this system is greatly increased to as much as 86%.

40 Hz Blue LED Relieves the Gamma Oscillations Changes Caused by Traumatic Brain Injury in Rat.

Background: Photobiomodulation (PBM) using low-level light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be rapidly applied to various neurological disorders safely and non-invasively. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight rats were involved in this study. The traumatic brain injury (TBI) model of rat was set up by a controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury. An 8-channel cortex electrode EEG was fixed to two hemispheres, and gamma oscillations were extracted according to each electrode. A 40 hz blue LED stimulation was set at four points of the frontal and parietal regions for 60 s each, six times per day for 1 week. Modified Neurologic Severity Scores (mNSS) were used to evaluate the level of neurological function. Results: In the right-side TBI model, the gamma oscillation decreased in electrodes Fp2, T4, C4, and O2; but significantly increased after 1 week of 40 hz Blue LED intervention. In the left-side TBI model, the gamma oscillation decreased in electrodes Fp1, T3, C3, and O1; and similarly increased after 1 week of 40 hz Blue LED intervention. Both left and right side TBI rats performed significantly better in mNSS after 40 hz Blue LED intervention. Conclusion: TBI causes the decrease of gamma oscillations on the injured side of the brain of rats. The 40 hz Blue LED therapy could relieve the gamma oscillation changes caused by TBI and improve the prognosis of TBI.

Association of Preoperative Cerebrospinal Fluids Parameters With Early Shunt Obstruction in Patients With Post-hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus Treated by Lumboperitoneal Shunt.

Background: Early shunt obstruction (SO) remains the most common cause of lumboperitoneal shunt (LPS) failure. Although there is anecdotal evidence that the level of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters might affect shunt performance, its association with early LPS obstruction in adults with post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) is unclear. Methods: The retrospective study was performed by reviewing the adults with PHH treated by LPS from years 2014 to 2018. We included patients with CSF samples analyzed within 1 week prior to shunt insertion or at the time of shunt insertion. Baseline characteristics of each patient were collected. The primary outcomes were the incidence rate and associated factors of SO occurring within 3 months of shunt placement. The secondary outcomes included scores on the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Evans Index at discharge. Results: A total of 76 eligible patients were analyzed, of whom 61 were obstruction-free and 15 were early SO. The overall rate of early SO was 15.6%. The RBCs count and nucleated cells count in preoperative CSF were actually higher in patients with early SO, compared to patients in the control group. Multivariate analysis identified RBC elevation (>0 × 106/L; OR: 10.629, 95% CI: 1.238-91.224, p = 0.031) as a dependent risk factor for early SO. NIHSS dramatically decreased at discharge while the alteration of ventricular size was not observed. Conclusions: This study suggested that the presence of RBCs in preoperative CSF was associated with early SO in patients with PHH treated by LPS.

Shunting outcomes in communicating hydrocephalus: protocol for a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) remains the most widely used methods to treat communicating hydrocephalus. More recently, lumboperitoneal shunt (LPS) has been suggested as a reasonable option in some studies. However, there is lack of high-quality studies comparing these two techniques in order to certain the benefits and harms to use one of these two methods. The purpose of the current study is to determine the effectiveness and safety of the LPS versus the VPS in patients with communicating hydrocephalus. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: All eligible patients aged 18-90 years with communicating hydrocephalus will be recruited and then randomly allocated into LPS or VPS group in a ratio of 1:1. All patients will be analysed before shunt insertion, at the time of discharge, 1 month, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months postoperatively. The primary outcome measure is the rate of shunt failure at a 2-year follow-up term. The secondary outcomes include Keifer's Hydrocephalus Scale, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended, Evans index, safety endpoints and cost-effectiveness of hospital stay. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study will be performed in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki (2002) of the World Medical Association. The study was approved by Institutional Review Board of West China Hospital. All patients will be fully informed the potential benefits, potential risks and responsibilities, those who will sign the informed consents once they are included. Preliminary and final results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international congresses. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2100043839.

Preoperative evaluation using external lumbar drainage for patients with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus: A prospective, monocentric, randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: External lumbar drainage (ELD) remains the most common used methods with a higher sensitivity before lumboperitoneal shunt (LPS) implantation to predict the shunt outcomes in the treatment of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. However, the benefits of such supplemental test have not been tested in the treatment of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH). METHODS AND DESIGN: In the current trial, 100 eligible patients with PHH will be recruited and randomly assigned to the ELD group (study group) and non-ELD group (control group). Lumbar puncture (LP) will be performed for participants in non-ELD group. LP plus ELD will be performed for participants in ELD group, those who will then be investigated the suitability of potential LPS 4 days after ELD. Two independent and practiced assessors will collect the baseline data and evaluate each participant 4 days after ELD or LP, 1 day after LPS, at the time of discharge and 1 month after LPS. The primary outcome is the shunting outcomes 1 month after surgery. The secondary outcomes include the complications related to ELD, complications related to LPS, and Evens index at each evaluation point. Meanwhile, serious adverse events occurring at any time is recorded to determine the safety of this trial. DISCUSSION: The results of this trial will demonstrate whether preoperative evaluation using temporary ELD for patients with PHH could attenuate the risk of LPS failure. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2000034094; Pre-results.

Evaluation of titanium cranioplasty and polyetheretherketone cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy for traumatic brain injury: A prospective, multicenter, non-randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Cranioplasty following decompressive craniectomy is routinely performed to restore integrity of skull and improve neurological function. However, reconstructing the cranial defect brings many challenges to neurosurgeons and search for ideal implant materials is one of the most controversial issues. Although many studies have compared the outcomes of titanium and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cranioplasty, yet no prospective study exists to guide the choice of titanium and PEEK materials. METHODS/DESIGN: A non-randomized, partially blinded, prospective cohort study is described that comprehensively compares the long-term outcomes of titanium cranioplasty versus PEEK cranioplasty. One hundred forty-five patients for each group will be recruited. Eligible patients are those with cranial defect due to traumatic brain injury (≥ 16 years), defect size is over 25 cm and they must agree to participate in the trial. Each participant is evaluated before surgery, on discharge, 3, 6, and 12 months after cranioplasty. The primary outcome is the infection, implant failure and implant deformation requiring revision surgery within 12 months. Secondary outcomes include postoperative complication rate, neurological outcomes, motor function, and cosmetic outcome over a 6-month period. DISCUSSION: Search for ideal implant materials is throughout the history of cranioplasty. This study will provide robust evidence for the choice of cranioplasty materials. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2000033406.

Shunting outcomes in post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The best treatment option for patients with post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) remains controversial. The objective of the current meta-analysis is to systematically evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients with PHH treated by ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) and lumboperitoneal shunt (LPS). METHODS: We search literatures through PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), the Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP) and Wan fang databases, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) from its beginning to June 15, 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs in English or Chinese studies will be considered. The primary outcome is the rate of shunt failure after shunt implantationThe secondary outcome is the rate of complications that are associated with shunt surgery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The study will compare the 2 types of shunt surgery in the treatment of PHH, providing evidence for the treatment option for the patients with PHH. STUDY REGISTRATION NUMBER: The study is priorly registered through International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols on June 17, 2020 (INPLASY202060063).

Comparison of ventriculoperitoneal shunt to lumboperitoneal shunt in the treatment of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus: A prospective, monocentric, non-randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) surgery remains the most widely accepted and used option method to treat post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) worldwide while lumboperitoneal shunt (LPS) serves as an effectively alternative treatment. However, the outcomes of VPS and LPS in the treatment of PHH have not been compared in a prospective trial. METHODS AND DESIGN: In this monocentric, assessor-blinded, non-randomized controlled trial, 75 eligible patients with PHH for each group will be recruited to compare the outcomes of VPS cohort with that of LPS cohort. Each participant is evaluated before surgery, at the time of discharge, 3, and 6 months after surgery by experienced and practiced assessors. The primary outcome is the rate of shunt failure 6 months after shunt surgery. The secondary measure of efficacy is National Institute of Health stroke scale, together along with Glasgow coma scale, modified Rankin Scale, and Evans index at the evaluation point. A favorable outcome is defined as shunt success with an improvement of more than 1 point in the National Institute of Health stroke scale. Complication events occurring within 6 months after surgery are investigated. A serious adverse events throughout the study are recorded regarding the safety of shunts. DISCUSSION: The results of this trial will provide evidence for the treatment options for patients with PHH.