Stress responses and Physiological Changes of Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis on Short-Term and Long-Term Benzalkonium Bromide Adaptation.

Salmonella enterica is a common foodborne pathogen that poses significant safety risks across the world. And benzalkonium bromide (BK) is widely used as a disinfectant to sterilize the food processing equipment. It has been reported that sub-lethal concentration of disinfectants induced not only the homologous resistance but also cross-resistances. This work analyzed the induced resistances of Salmonella Enteritidis by short-term adaptation (STA) and long-term adaptation (LTA) to BK. We have demonstrated that inefficient sterilization exposes Salmonella Enteritidis to sub-lethal concentrations of BK, and adapts bacteria to a higher minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration. In addition, STA, but not LTA, to BK induced heterogeneous resistance to sodium hypochlorite, and cross-resistance to freezing, desiccation, and heating, which may be caused by the membrane composition change of Salmonella Enteritidis. This work could be useful to the optimization of cleaning protocol.

Predictive value of free triiodothyronine to free thyroxine ratio on contrast-associated acute kidney injury and poor prognosis in euthyroid patients after percutaneous coronary intervention.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to explore the predictive value of free triiodothyronine to free thyroxine ratio (FT3/FT4) on contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) and poor prognosis in euthyroid patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: The present study included 3,116 euthyroid patients who underwent elective PCI. The main outcome was CA-AKI, and the secondary outcome was long-term mortality. All patients were divided into three groups according to the tertiles of FT3/FT4 levels. RESULTS: During hospitalization, a total of 160 cases (5.1%) of CA-AKI occurred. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis indicated a linear and negative relationship between FT3/FT4 and CA-AKI risk (P for nonlinearity = 0.2621). Besides, the fully-adjusted logistic regression model revealed that patients in tertile 3 (low FT3/FT4 group) had 1.82 times [odds ratio (OR): 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-3.02, P = 0.016] as high as the risk of CA-AKI than those in tertile 1 (high FT3/FT4 group). Similarly, patients in tertile 3 were observed to have a higher incidence of long-term mortality [fully-adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 1.58, 95% CI: 1.07-2.32, P = 0.021]. Similarly, the Kaplan-Meier curves displayed significant differences in long-term mortality among the three groups (log-rank test, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In euthyroid patients undergoing elective PCI, low levels of FT3/FT4 were independently associated with an increased risk of CA-AKI and long-term mortality. Routine evaluation of FT3/FT4 may aid in risk stratification and guide treatment decisions within this particular patient group.

Tau induces inflammasome activation and microgliosis through acetylating NLRP3.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related Tauopathies are characterised by the pathologically hyperphosphorylated and aggregated microtubule-associated protein Tau, which is accompanied by neuroinflammation mediated by activated microglia. However, the role of Tau pathology in microglia activation or their causal relationship remains largely elusive. METHODS: The levels of nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain (NOD)-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) acetylation and inflammasome activation in multiple cell models with Tau proteins treatment, transgenic mice with Tauopathy, and AD patients were measured by Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the acetyltransferase activity of Tau and NLRP3 acetylation sites were confirmed using the test-tube acetylation assay, co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence (IF) staining, mass spectrometry and molecular docking. The Tau-overexpressing mouse model was established by overexpression of human Tau proteins in mouse hippocampal CA1 neurons through the adeno-associated virus injection. The cognitive functions of Tau-overexpressing mice were assessed in various behavioural tests, and microglia activation was analysed by Iba-1 IF staining and [18F]-DPA-714 positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging. A peptide that blocks the interaction between Tau and NLRP3 was synthesised to determine the in vitro and in vivo effects of Tau-NLRP3 interaction blockade on NLRP3 acetylation, inflammasome activation, microglia activation and cognitive function. RESULTS: Excessively elevated NLRP3 acetylation and inflammasome activation were observed in 3xTg-AD mice, microtubule-associated protein Tau P301S (PS19) mice and AD patients. It was further confirmed that mimics of 'early' phosphorylated-Tau proteins which increase at the initial stage of diseases with Tauopathy, including TauT181E, TauS199E, TauT217E and TauS262E, significantly promoted Tau-K18 domain acetyltransferase activity-dependent NLRP3 acetylation and inflammasome activation in HEK293T and BV-2 microglial cells. In addition, Tau protein could directly acetylate NLRP3 at the K21, K22 and K24 sites at its PYD domain and thereby induce inflammasome activation in vitro. Overexpression of human Tau proteins in mouse hippocampal CA1 neurons resulted in impaired cognitive function, Tau transmission to microglia and microgliosis with NLRP3 acetylation and inflammasome activation. As a targeted intervention, competitive binding of a designed Tau-NLRP3-binding blocking (TNB) peptide to block the interaction of Tau protein with NLRP3 inhibited the NLRP3 acetylation and downstream inflammasome activation in microglia, thereby alleviating microglia activation and cognitive impairment in mice. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our findings provide evidence for a novel role of Tau in the regulation of microglia activation through acetylating NLRP3, which has potential implications for early intervention and personalised treatment of AD and related Tauopathies.

The Association of Intraindividual Difference Between Cystatin- and Creatinine-Based Estimated GFR and Contrast-Associated Acute Kidney Injury.

Purpose: The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) based on creatinine is crucial for the risk assessment of contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI). In recent, the difference between cystatin C-based eGFR (eGFRcys) and creatinine-based eGFR (eGFRcr) has been widely documented. We aimed to explore whether intraindividual differences between eGFRcys and eGFRcr had potential value for CA-AKI risk assessment in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients and Methods: From January 2012 to December 2018, we retrospectively observed 5049 patients receiving elective PCI. To determine eGFR, serum creatinine and cystatin C levels were measured. CA-AKI was defined as serum creatinine being increased ≥ 50% or 0.3 mg/dL within 48 h after contrast agents exposure. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was defined as the eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Results: Approximately half of the participants (2479, 49.1%) had a baseline eGFRdiff (eGFRcys-eGFRcr) between -15 and 15 mL/min/1.73 m2. Restricted cubic splines analysis revealed a nonlinear relationship between eGFRdiff and CA-AKI. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that compared with the reference group (-15 to 15 mL/min/1.73 m2), the negative-eGFRdiff group (less than -15 mL/min/1.73 m2) had a higher risk of CA-AKI (OR, 3.44; 95% CI, 2.57-4.64). Furthermore, patients were divided into four groups based on CKD identified by eGFRcys or eGFRcr. Multivariable logistic analysis revealed that patients with either CKDcys (OR, 2.94; 95% CI, 2.19-3.95, P < 0.001) or CKDcr (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.19-4.63, P < 0.001) had an elevated risk of CA-AKI compared to those without CKDcys and CKDcr. Conclusion: There are frequent intraindividual differences between eGFRcys and eGFRcr, and these differences can be used to forecast the risk of CA-AKI.

Lactate dehydrogenase-to-albumin ratio: A superior inflammatory marker for predicting contrast-associated acute kidney injury after percutaneous coronary intervention.

PURPOSE: Inflammation is commonly considered a mechanism underlying contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI). This study aimed to explore the predictive capability of the novel inflammatory marker lactate dehydrogenase-to-albumin ratio (LAR) for CA-AKI following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and further compare it with other common inflammatory biomarkers. METHODS: This study enrolled 5,435 patients undergoing elective PCI. The primary outcome was CA-AKI, and the secondary outcome was all-cause mortality. All patients were grouped into three groups based on the LAR tertiles. RESULTS: Three hundred fifteen patients (5.8%) experienced CA-AKI during hospitalization. The fully adjusted logistic regression suggested a significant increase in the risk of CA-AKI in LAR Tertile 3 (odds ratio [OR]: 2.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.68-3.83, p < .001) and Tertile 2 (OR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.42-3.20, p < .001) compared to Tertile 1. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated that LAR exhibited significantly superior predictive capability for CA-AKI compared to other inflammatory biomarkers. Regarding the secondary outcome, multivariate COX regression analysis showed a positive correlation between elevated LAR levels and all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing elective PCI, LAR was significantly independently associated with CA-AKI, and it stood out as the optimal inflammatory biomarker for predicting CA-AKI.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Physicochemical Properties of New [Emim][BF3X] Complex Anion Ionic Liquids.

A new series of complex anion ionic liquids (ILs) [Emim][BF3X] (X = CH3SO3, EtSO4, HSO4, Tosylate) were synthesized and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry analysis, and thermogravimetry. The physicochemical properties of these ILs, such as density, viscosity, conductivity, and surface tension, were measured and correlated with thermodynamic and empirical equations in the temperature range of 293.15-358.15 K under ambient conditions, and the thermal expansion coefficient, standard molar entropy, lattice potential energy, viscosity activation energy, surface enthalpy, and surface entropy were further calculated from experimental values. According to the temperature-dependent viscosity and conductivity, [Emim][BF3X] ILs follow the Walden rule, and they are classified as "good (or super) ionic liquids".

Predictors of Gleason Grading Group Upgrading in Low-Risk Prostate Cancer Patients From Transperineal Biopsy After Radical Prostatectomy.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the predictors of Gleason Grading Group (GGG) upgrading in low-risk prostate cancer (Gleason score=3 + 3) from transperineal biopsy after radical prostatectomy (RP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical data of 160 patients who underwent transperineal biopsy and RP from January 2017 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. First, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to obtain independent predictors of postoperative GGG upgrading. Then receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of predictors. Finally, Linear-by-Linear Association test was used to analyze the risk trends of patients in different predictor groups in the postoperative GGG. RESULTS: In this study, there were 81 cases (50.6%) in the GGG concordance group and 79 cases (49.4%) in the GGG upgrading group. Univariate analysis showed age, free/total prostate-specific antigen (f/tPSA), proportion of positive biopsies, positive target of magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) and positive target of contrast-enhanced ultrasound had significant effects on GGG upgrading (all P < .05). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, age (odds ratio [OR]=1.066, 95%CI=1.007-1.127, P = .027), f/tPSA (OR=0.001, 95%CI=0-0.146, P = .001) and positive target of MRI (OR=3.005, 95%CI=1.353-76.674, P = .007) were independent predictors. The prediction model (area under curve=0.751 P < .001) had higher predictive efficacy than all independent predictors. The proportion of patients in exposed group of different GGG increased with the level of GGG, but decreased in nonexposed group, and the linear trend was significantly different (all P < .001). CONCLUSION: Age, f/tPSA, and positive target of MRI were independent predictors of postoperative GGG upgrading. The predictive model constructed had the best diagnostic efficacy.

Bereaved parents' perceptions of memory making: a qualitative meta-synthesis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the experiences of parents who have experienced bereavement in their efforts to preserve memories of their deceased child. METHODS: Employing a qualitative meta-synthesis approach, this study systematically sought relevant qualitative literature by conducting searches across various electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Wiley, up until July 2023. RESULTS: Nine studies are eligible for inclusion and included in the meta-synthesis. Three overarching categories are identified: (1) Affirming the Significance of Memory Making. (2) Best Practices in Memory Making. (3) Barriers to Effective Memory Making. CONCLUSION: Bereaved parents highly value the act of creating lasting memories, emphasizing its profound significance. While forming these memories, it is imperative to offer family-centered care and honor diverse preferences and needs. It is essential to offer effective support to parents, offering them a range of choices. Furthermore, a more comprehensive examination of memory-making practices is required to better understand their influence on parents' recollections of their deceased child.

Multifunctional droplet handling on surface-charge-graphic-decorated porous papers.

Developing a fluidic platform that combines high-throughput with reconfigurability is essential for a wide range of cutting-edge applications, but achieving both capabilities simultaneously remains a significant challenge. Herein, we propose a novel and unique method for droplet manipulation via drawing surface charge graphics on electrode-free papers in a contactless way. We find that opposite charge graphics can be written and retained on the surface layer of porous insulating paper by a controlled charge depositing method. The retained charge graphics result in high-resolution patterning of electrostatic potential wells (EPWs) on the hydrophobic porous surface, allowing for digital and high-throughput droplet handling. Since the charge graphics can be written/projected dynamically and simultaneously in large areas, allowing for on-demand and real-time reconfiguration of EPWs, we are able to develop a charge-graphic fluidic platform with both high reconfigurability and high throughput. The advantages and application potential of the platform have been demonstrated in chemical detection and dynamically controllable fluidic networks.

The Prognostic Value of the Age-D-Dimer-Albumin Score in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: The Age-D-dimer-Albumin (ADA), the CREDO-Kyoto, and the PARIS scores have been established to predict thrombotic events. However, the prognostic performance of these scores compared to the GRACE score in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been reported. METHODS: Consecutive AMI patients treated with PCI were retrospectively enrolled at a teaching hospital in China from January 2016 to December 2019. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality and the secondary endpoint was cardiac death. Harrell's C-index and net reclassification improvement (NRI) were used to compare the prognostic value of these scores with the GRACE score for mortality. RESULTS: Of the 1,578 patients enrolled, the mean age was 62.5 years, and 23.5% were female. During a median follow-up of 3.8 years, 146 all-cause deaths and 80 cardiac deaths occurred. The ADA score showed a better prognostic performance than the GRACE (Harrell's C-index: 0.800 vs. 0.749; p = 0.003), the CREDO-Kyoto (Harrell's C-index: 0.800 vs. 0.765; NRI = 0.348, p < 0.001), and the PARIS scores (Harrell's C-index: 0.800 vs. 0.694; NRI = 0.556, p < 0.001). In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, the ADA score was independently associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.641 per 10-point increment, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.397-1.929) and cardiac death (HR = 1.636 per 10-point increment, 95% CI: 1.325-2.020). The risk of all-cause mortality and cardiac death increased with the rising of the ADA score. CONCLUSION: The ADA score showed a better prognostic performance than the GRACE, the CREDO-Kyoto, and the PARIS scores in patients with AMI undergoing PCI, which was a potential predictive tool for mortality.

Macrophages polarization in renal inflammation and fibrosis animal models (Review).

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant public health concern. Renal fibrosis is the final common pathway in the progression of kidney diseases, irrespective of the initial injury. Substantial evidence underscores the pivotal role of renal inflammation in the genesis of renal fibrosis. The presence of macrophages within normal renal tissue is significantly increased within diseased renal tissue, indicative of their crucial regulatory function in inflammation and fibrosis. Macrophages manifest a high degree of heterogeneity, exhibiting distinct phenotypic and functional traits in response to diverse stimuli within the local microenvironment in various types of kidney diseases. Broadly, macrophages are categorized into two principal groups: Classically activated, designated as M1 macrophages and alternatively activated, designated as M2 macrophages. A number of experimental models are widely used to study the underlying mechanisms driving renal inflammation and fibrosis progression. The present review delineated the phenotypic and functional attributes of macrophages present in diverse induced models, analyzing their disposition in relation to M1 and M2 polarization states.

Direct Capturing and Regulating Key Intermediates for High-Efficiency Oxygen Evolution Reactions.

Developing efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts can greatly advance the commercialization of proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis. However, the unclear and disputed reaction mechanism and structure-activity relationship of OER pose significant obstacles. Herein, the active site and intermediate for OER on AuIr nanoalloys are simultaneously identified and correlated with the activity, through the integration of in situ shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The AuIr nanoalloys display excellent OER performance with an overpotential of only 246 mV to achieve 10 mA cm-2 and long-term stability under strong acidic conditions. Direct spectroscopic evidence demonstrates that * OO adsorbed on IrOx sites is the key intermediate for OER, and it is generated through the O-O coupling of adsorbed oxygen species directly from water, providing clear support for the adsorbate evolution mechanism. Moreover, the Raman information of the * OO intermediate can serve as a universal "in situ descriptor" that can be obtained both experimentally and theoretically to accelerate the catalyst design. It unveils that weakening the interactions of * OO on the catalysts and facilitating its desorption would boost the OER performance. This work deepens the mechanistic understandings on OER and provides insightful guidance for the design of more efficient OER catalysts.

Biological control of potato common scab and growth promotion of potato by Bacillus velezensis Y6.

Potato common scab, caused mainly by Streptomyces scabies, causes surface necrosis and reduces the economic value of potato tubers, but effective chemical control is still lacking. In this study, an attempt was made to control potato common scab by inoculating potatoes with Bacillus velezensis (B. velezensis) and to further investigate the mechanism of biological control. The results showed that B. velezensis Y6 could reduce the disease severity of potato common scab from 49.92 ± 25.74% [inoculated with Streptomyces scabies (S. scabies) only] to 5.56 ± 1.89% (inoculated with S. scabies and Y6 on the same day) and increase the potato yield by 37.32% compared with the control under pot experiment in this study. Moreover, in the field trial, it was found that Y6 could also significantly reduce disease severity from 13.20 ± 1.00% to 4.00 ± 0.70% and increase the potato yield from 2.07 ± 0.10 ton/mu to 2.87 ± 0.28 ton/mu (p < 0.01; Tukey's test). Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis indicated that 256 potato genes were upregulated and 183 potato genes were downregulated in response to B. velezensis Y6 inoculation. In addition, strain Y6 was found to induce the expression of plant growth-related genes in potato, including cell wall organization, biogenesis, brassinosteroid biosynthesis, and plant hormone transduction genes, by 1.01-4.29 times. As well as up-regulate hydroquinone metabolism-related genes and several transcription factors (bHLH, MYB, and NAC) by 1.13-4.21 times. In summary, our study will help to understand the molecular mechanism of biological control of potato common scab and improve potato yield.

Relationship between 25-hydroxy vitamin D and knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: In order to examine the relationship between 25-hydroxyl vitamin D and knee osteoarthritis (KOA), a meta-analysis of 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) publications was hereby performed. Methods: For the purpose of finding pertinent research, the databases of PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched. Factors including tibial cartilage volume, joint space width (JSW), synovial fluid volume, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) were correspondingly evaluated, and the results were expressed using SMD and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: The present meta-analysis evaluated the effects of vitamin D supplementation in patients with knee osteoarthritis, with 3,077 patients included. The results showed that vitamin D administration had a statistically significant impact on the amount of synovial fluid, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and tibial cartilage. The pain and function scales of the WOMAC scale presented a statistically significant difference, and there was no discernible difference between the vitamin D and placebo groups in the stiffness scale. Additionally, bone marrow lesions and alterations in the diameter of the joint space were not influenced by the administration of vitamin D, and according to a subgroup study, a daily vitamin D supplement containing more than 2,000 IU significantly slowed the development of synovial tissue. Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation did benefit those suffering from knee discomfort and knee dysfunction. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022332033, identifier: CRD42022332033.

Robotic-assisted proctosigmoidectomy for Hirschsprung's disease: A multicenter prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Robotic surgery is a cutting-edge minimally invasive technique that overcomes many shortcomings of laparoscopic techniques, yet few studies have evaluated the use of robotic surgery to treat Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR). AIM: To analyze the feasibility and medium-term outcomes of robotic-assisted proctosigmoidectomy (RAPS) with sphincter- and nerve-sparing surgery in HSCR patients. METHODS: From July 2015 to January 2022, 156 rectosigmoid HSCR patients were enrolled in this multicenter prospective study. Their sphincters and nerves were spared by dissecting the rectum completely from the pelvic cavity outside the longitudinal muscle of the rectum and then performing transanal Soave pull-through procedures. Surgical outcomes and continence function were analyzed. RESULTS: No conversions or intraoperative complications occurred. The median age at surgery was 9.50 months, and the length of the removed bowel was 15.50 ± 5.23 cm. The total operation time, console time, and anal traction time were 155.22 ± 16.77, 58.01 ± 7.71, and 45.28 ± 8.15 min. There were 25 complications within 30 d and 48 post-30-d complications. For children aged ≥ 4 years, the bowel function score (BFS) was 17.32 ± 2.63, and 90.91% of patients showed moderate-to-good bowel function. The postoperative fecal continence (POFC) score was 10.95 ± 1.04 at 4 years of age, 11.48 ± 0.72 at 5 years of age, and 11.94 ± 0.81 at 6 years of age, showing a promising annual trend. There were no significant differences in postoperative complications, BFS, and POFC scores related to age at surgery being ≤ 3 mo or > 3 mo. CONCLUSION: RAPS is a safe and effective alternative for treating HSCR in children of all ages; it offers the advantage of further minimizing damage to sphincters and perirectal nerves and thus providing better continence function.

Predictive Value of Systemic Inflammation Score for Contrast-Associated Acute Kidney Injury and Adverse Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Purpose: Prior research has demonstrated a key role of systemic inflammatory state in the pathogenesis and progression of contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI). Recently, the systemic inflammation score (SIS) has been introduced to evaluate the inflammatory status, utilizing the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) and albumin. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether the SIS can predict CA-AKI and long-term prognosis in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients and Methods: A total of 5726 patients who underwent elective PCI were included from January 2012 to December 2018. The primary outcome was CA-AKI, defined as an increase in serum creatinine (SCr) ≥0.3 mg/dl or ≥50% than baseline SCr within 48 h after the PCI procedure. The secondary outcome was long-term mortality. All patients were classified into low- and high-SIS groups. Results: During hospitalization, 349 (6.1%) patients developed CA-AKI. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patients in the high SIS group had a 1.47-fold higher risk of developing CA-AKI than those in the low SIS group [odds ratio (OR): 1.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12-2.01, P =0.006]. Furthermore, the SIS showed the greatest prediction performance for CA-AKI compared with other inflammatory hematological ratios. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, the high SIS group was found to be closely associated with long-term mortality [hazard ratio (HR): 1.58, 95% CI: 1.26-1.97, P <0.001, vs low SIS group]. The Kaplan-Meier curve analysis also demonstrated a difference in long-term mortality between the two groups (Log rank test, P <0.001). Conclusion: The SIS was closely associated with CA-AKI and long-term mortality in patients after elective PCI. Thus, more attention should be paid to exploring the potential benefits of anti-inflammatory strategies in preventing CA-AKI and improving the prognosis of patients undergoing PCI.

Influencing factors of fear of falling among glaucoma patients in west China: a cross-sectional study.

AIM: To investigate the current situation and influencing factors of fear of falling in glaucoma patients in western China. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, glaucoma patients treated in the Ophthalmology Department of West China Hospital of Sichuan University were conducted to investigate the demographic data, visual acuity, visual field, activities of daily living, risk of falling, fear of falling and psychological states. Generalized linear model was used for multivariate analysis with fear of falling as dependent variable and other factors as independent variables. RESULTS: The mean score of the Chinese version modified Fall Efficacy Scale (MFES) was 7.52±2.09 points. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis showed that the history of falls within one year, visual acuity, visual field, risk of falling, activities of daily living and psychological states had statistically difference on fear of falling (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Glaucoma patients in west China have relatively high risk of fear of falling. History of falling within 1y, severe visual function impairment, high risk of falling, incapable of independence of daily living, and abnormal psychological state are risk factors of fear of falling among glaucoma patients.

Metabolomics-based response of Salmonella to desiccation stress and skimmed milk powder storage.

The strong survival ability of Salmonella in low-moisture foods (LMFs) has been of public concern, and is considered a threat to people's health. Recently, the development of omics technology has promoted research on the molecular mechanisms of the desiccation stress response of pathogenic bacteria. However, multiple analytical aspects related to their physiological characteristics remain unclear. We explored the physiological metabolism changes of S. enterica Enteritidis exposed to a 24 h-desiccation treatment and a subsequent 3-month desiccation storage in skimmed milk powder (SMP) with an approach of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-Q Exactive-mass spectrometry (UPLC-QE-MS). A total of 8,292 peaks were extracted, of which 381 were detected by GC-MS and 7,911 peaks were identified by LC-MS/MS, respectively. Through analyses of differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) and key pathways, a total of 58 DEMs emerged from the 24 h-desiccation treatment, which exhibited the highest relevance for five metabolic pathways, involving glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, purine metabolism, vitamin B6 metabolism, and pentose phosphate pathway. After 3-month SMP storage, 120 DEMs were identified, which were related to several regulatory pathways including arginine and proline metabolism, serine and threonine metabolism, ß-alanine metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, and glycolysis. The analyses of key enzyme activities of XOD, PK, and G6PDH and ATP content provided further evidence that supported the metabolic responses such as nucleic acid degradation, glycolysis, and ATP production played an important role in Salmonella's adaptation to desiccation stress. This study enables a better understanding of metabolomics-based responses of Salmonella at the initial stage of desiccation stress and the following long-term adaptive stage. Meanwhile, the identified discriminative metabolic pathways may serve as potentially useful targets in developing strategies for the control and prevention of desiccation-adapted Salmonella in LMFs.

Experimental Study on a Liquid-Solid Phase-Change Autogenous Proppant Fracturing Fluid System.

In this paper, a liquid-solid phase-change autogenous proppant fracturing fluid system (LSPCAP) was proposed to solve the problems that was caused by "sand-carrying" in conventional fracturing technology in oil and gas fields. The characteristic of the new fluid system is that no solid particles will be injected in the whole process of fracturing construction except liquids. The fluid itself will transform into solid particles under the formation temperature to resist the closure stress in the fractures. There are two kinds of liquids that make up the new fracturing fluid system. One of the liquids is called phase-change liquid (PCL) which occurs in the liquid-solid phase change under the formation temperature to form solid particles. Another is called nonphase-change liquid (NPCL) which controls the dispersity and size of PCL in the two-phase fluid system. Based on the molecular interaction theory and organic chemistry, bisphenol-A epoxy resin was selected as the building unit of the PCL, and the NPCL consisted of deionized water + nonionic surfactant. The test results indicated that the new fracturing fluid shows the properties of non-Newtonian fluid and has no wall-building property. The new fluid system has good compatibility with the formation fluid, conventional fracturing fluid, and hydrochloric acid. Through the filtration test, the filtration coefficients of PCL, NPCL, and mixture are found to be 1.56 × 10-4 m/s1/2, 2.66 × 10-4 m/s1/2, and 1.7 × 10-4 m/s1/2, respectively, and the damage rate of mixture and NPCL is 18 and 17.7%. The friction test results show that the resistance reduction rate reaches 69% when the volume ratio of PCL and NPCL is 1:10. The shear rate and time only affect the size of the autogenous solid particles, and the sorting coefficient (S) of the particles is 1.04-1.73, indicating good sorting. Crushing resistance and conductivity test results show that the crush rate of autogenous solid particles is 3.56-8.42%. The conductivity of the autogenous solid particles is better than those of quartz sand and ceramsite under a pressure of 10-30 MPa.

Environmental Adaptation in the Process of Human-Land Relationship in Southeast China's Ethnic Minority Areas and Its Significance on Sustainable Development.

The relationship between regional human development and geographic environment is the basis for dynamic social change, and studying the evolution of human-land relations in typical regions can provide background knowledge for global change studies. This study is based on GIS and spatio-temporal statistical techniques, combined with the analysis of toponymic cultural landscapes, to study ethnic minority regions of southeastern China. The results show that: (1) The geographical environment of the region will affect the naming of villages, and the orientation and family name are the most common; the frequency of plants, pit (keng), animals, and flat (ping) is also very high. (2) Han settlements and She settlements have obvious spatial differentiation, and in general the Han distribution area is lower than that of the She. Han settlements are mainly distributed in plain areas along rivers with elevations less than 200 m; She settlements are mainly distributed in hilly areas (200~500 m) and low mountain areas (500~800 m). (3) The results of quadrat analysis and nearest neighbor index analysis show that both Han and She settlements are clustered in the spatial distribution pattern, and the distribution of She settlements is more clustered than that of Han, with more dense settlements at a certain spatial scale. The regional cultural landscape is the result of the development and evolution of human-land relationship, and the comprehensive analysis of cultural landscape can understand the process of human-land relationship in a small region. The settlements in the region are indicative of the geographic environment in terms of village naming, spatial pattern, elevation differentiation and relationship with rivers, which can reflect the environmental adaptation process of human activities.