Special stent for draining the abdominal abscess respectively from colon and duodenum: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative abdominal infections are an important and heterogeneous health challenge. Many samll abdominal abscesses are resolved with antibiotics, but larger or symptomatic abscesses may require procedural management. CASE SUMMARY: A 65-year-old male patient who suffered operation for the left hepatocellular carcinoma eight months ago, came to our hospital with recurrent abdominal pain, vomit, and fever for one month. Abdominal computed tomography showed that a big low-density dumbbell-shaped mass among the liver and intestine. Colonoscopy showed a submucosal mass with a fistula at colon of liver region. Gastroscopy showed a big rupture on the submucosal mass at the descending duodenum and a fistula at the duodenal bulb. Under colonoscopy, the brown liquid and pus were drained from the mass with "special stent device". Under gastroscopy, we closed the rupture of the mass with a loop and six clips for purse stitching at the descending duodenum, and the same method as colonoscopy was used to drain the brown liquid and pus from the mass. The symptom of abdominal pain, vomit and fever were relieved after the treatment. CONCLUSION: The special stent device could be effectively for draining the abdominal abscess respectively from colon and duodenum.

Examining the relationship between alterations in plasma cholesterol, vascular endothelin-1 levels, and the severity of sepsis in children: An observational study.

Considering the significant impact of total cholesterol (TC) and vascular endothelin-1 (ET-1) on children sepsis outcomes, this research aimed to explore the association between the levels of plasma cholesterol and vascular endothelin-1 and the severity of sepsis and evaluated its clinical implications. In this study, we examined 250 pediatric patients diagnosed with sepsis between February 2019 and April 2021, collecting data on their plasma levels of TC and ET-1. Depending on the observed outcomes, the participants were divided into 2 categories: a group with a positive prognosis (control group, n = 100) and a group with a negative prognosis (n = 50). We assessed the significance of plasma TC and ET-1 levels in forecasting the outcomes for these pediatric patients. Patients in the group with a poor prognosis experienced notably longer hospital stays and higher treatment expenses than those in the control group (P < .05). Within the first 24 hours of admission and again on days 3 and 7, the levels of ET-1 were significantly higher in the poor prognosis group, whereas plasma TC levels were notably lower in comparison to the control group (P < .05). A Spearman correlation analysis identified a significant correlation between the levels of plasma TC and ET-1 and the severity of sepsis among the children (P < .05). The diagnostic performance for the severity of sepsis in children, as measured by the area under the curve (AUC), was 0.805 for plasma TC, 0.777 for ET-1 levels, and 0.938 when both were combined. This investigation underscores a meaningful relationship between the levels of plasma TC and ET-1 in pediatric sepsis patients, suggesting these biomarkers are highly valuable in predicting patient outcomes. High levels of ET-1 and low levels of TC in these patients signify a grave condition and a poor prognosis.

Case report: A rare case of hereditary hemochromatosis caused by a mutation in the HAMP gene in Fuyang, China.

Hemochromatosis, also known as siderosis, is a disease caused by excessive iron deposition in human organs and tissues, resulting from iron metabolism disorders. It is clinically characterized by skin pigmentation (bronze color), liver cirrhosis, diabetes, weakness, and fatigue. Additional symptoms may include arthritis, hypothyroidism, heart failure, and sexual hypofunction. Clinical manifestations can vary from person to person, with a few patients showing no clinical manifestations, which makes the diagnosis difficult for clinicians. In this case report, we described hereditary hemochromatosis related to a mutation in the HAMP gene in Fuyang City, China, as a reference for clinicians. Hereditary hemochromatosis is rarely reported in China. Clinicians in China have relatively insufficient knowledge of this disease, which leads to frequent misdiagnosis. In this case report, we describe hereditary hemochromatosis related to HAMP gene mutation in Fuyang City, China, for the clinician's reference.

Association between vitamin A intake and depression among patients with heart failure.

AIMS: We aim to investigate the association between vitamin A intake and depression among patients with heart failure (HF). METHODS AND RESULTS: In this cross-sectional study, data of HF patients were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2020. The independent variable was vitamin A intake, and the dependent variable was depression. Weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were performed to explore the association of vitamin A intake with depression in HF patients. A total of 999 HF patients were included, with a mean age of 66.19 (0.51) years, and 566 (52.49%) were male. And 197 patients have depression. Vitamin A intake ≥731.38 mcg was associated with lower incidence of depression [odds ratio (OR) = 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18-0.76] in HF patients. Similarly, the relationship between high vitamin A intake and lower odds of depression were also observed in subgroups of those aged >65 years (OR = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.04-0.55), males (OR = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.14-0.86), without hypertension (OR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.11-0.58), without diabetes (OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.11-0.78), with hyperlipidaemia (OR = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.09-0.64), and with chronic kidney disease (CKD) (OR = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.13-0.80). CONCLUSIONS: High vitamin A intake was associated with lower odds of depression in HF patients. Appropriate vitamin A supplementation may have potential benefit to the prevention of depression in HF patients. Additional prospective large-scale studies are required to confirm whether or not vitamin A could lead to decrease in depression symptoms.

Socioeconomic inequalities in human papillomavirus knowledge and vaccine uptake: evidence from a cross-sectional study in China.

Objective: Providing the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is effective to eliminate the disparity in HPV-related cancers. It is unknown regarding inequality in the distribution of HPV vaccination in China since the vaccine was licensed and approved for use in 2016. This study aimed to examine socioeconomic inequalities in HPV-related knowledge and vaccination and identified factors associated with such inequalities. Methods: Self-administered questionnaires measuring HPV-related knowledge and vaccine uptake were completed by 1,306 women through online survey platform. HPV knowledge was assessed using a 12-item question stem that covered the hazards of HPV infection, HPV vaccine dosage, benefits, and protection. Cluster analysis by combining monthly household income, educational level, and employment status was used to identify socioeconomic status (SES) class. The concentration index (CI) was employed as a measure of socioeconomic inequalities in HPV-related knowledge and vaccination. Linear regression and logistic regression were established to decompose the contributions of associated factors to the observed inequalities. Results: The CI for HPV-related knowledge and vaccine uptake was 0.0442 and 0.1485, respectively, indicating the higher knowledge and vaccination rate were concentrated in groups with high SES. Education and household income made the largest contribution to these inequalities. Age, residency and cervical cancer screening were also important contributors of observed inequalities. Conclusion: Socioeconomic inequalities in HPV-related knowledge and vaccination uptake are evident in China. Interventions to diffuse HPV-related information for disadvantaged groups are helpful to reduce these inequalities. Providing low or no-cost HPV vaccination and ensuring accessibility of vaccines in rural areas are also considered to be beneficial.

Intravitreal Injection of Conbercept Combined with Dexamethasone for Macular Edema Following Central Retinal Vein Occlusion.

Background: To compare the efficacy of intravitreal injections of Conbercept combined with dexamethasone (DEX) for macular edema (ME) following central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Methods: This was a prospective, single-masked, randomised, controlled clinical trial. Patients with ME following CRVO were randomised into groups to receive intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg Conbercept plus 0.2 mg DEX or 0.5 mg Conbercept alone on day 0 followed by repeat injections as indicated. The primary outcome measure was the change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline to month 12. Secondary outcome measures included decrease in central retinal thickness (CRT), injection frequency and interval and percentage of patients who gained more than 15 ETDRS letters or achieved a CRT of < 250 µm at month 12. Results: 33 males (51%) and 32 females (49%) were initially recruited with an average age of 56.64 ± 13.88 years. Patients in the Conbercept and Conbercept + DEX groups gained an average of 14.55 ± 19.19 and 14.88 ± 17.68 ETDRS letters, respectively, at months 12 (t = 4.221, P = 0.000; and t = 4.834, P = 0.000) with no significant difference between the two groups (t = 0.071, P = 0.943). In the Conbercept group, the mean reduction in CRT from baseline to month 12 was 435.26 ± 293.37 µm (t = 8.261, P = 0.000) compared to 431.36 ± 294.55 (t = 8.413, P = 0.000) in the Conbercept + DEX group. There was no significant difference between the two groups (t = 0.053, P = 0.958). The Conbercept + DEX group received fewer intravitreal injections. No major complications occurred. Conclusion: Conbercept, alone or with DEX, can improve BCVA and reduce CRT in ME following CRVO without serious adverse events. The treatment interval was longer in the Conbercept + DEX group. Trial Registration: The study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry at 5 July 2017. (http://www.chictr.org.cn, 05/07/2017 Registration Number: ChiCTR-INR-17011877).

Hybrid Molecular Sieve-Based Interfacial Layer with Physical Confinement and Desolvation Effect for Dendrite-free Zinc Metal Anodes.

The side reactions and dendrite growth at the interface of Zn anodes greatly limit their practical applications in Zn metal batteries. Herein, we propose a hybrid molecular sieve-based interfacial layer (denoted as Z7M3) with a hierarchical porous structure for Zn metal anodes, which contains 70 vol % microporous ZSM-5 molecular sieves and 30 vol % mesoporous MCM-41 molecular sieves. Through comprehensive molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that the mesopores (∼2.5 nm) of MCM-41 can limit the disordered diffusion of free water molecules and increase the wettability of the interfacial layer toward aqueous electrolytes. In addition, the micropores (∼0.56 nm) of ZSM-5 can optimize the Zn2+ solvation structures by reducing the bonded water molecules, which simultaneously decrease the constraint force of solvated water molecules to Zn2+ ions, thus promoting the penetrability and diffusion kinetics of Zn2+ ions in Z7M3. The synergetic effects from the hybrid molecular sieves maintain a constant Zn2+ concentration on the surface of the Zn electrode during Zn deposition, contributing to dendrite-free Zn anodes. Consequently, Z7M3-coated Zn electrodes achieved excellent cycling stability in both half and full cells.

Elimination of GGTA1, CMAH, ß4GalNT2 and CIITA genes in pigs compromises human versus pig xenogeneic immune reactions.

BACKGROUND: Pig organ xenotransplantation is a potential solution for the severe organ shortage in clinic, while immunogenic genes need to be eliminated to improve the immune compatibility between humans and pigs. Current knockout strategies are mainly aimed at the genes causing hyperacute immune rejection (HAR) that occurs in the first few hours while adaptive immune reactions orchestrated by CD4 T cell thereafter also cause graft failure, in which process the MHC II molecule plays critical roles. METHODS: Thus, we generate a 4-gene (GGTA1, CMAH, ß4GalNT2, and CIITA) knockout pig by CRISPR/Cas9 and somatic cell nuclear transfer to compromise HAR and CD4 T cell reactions simultaneously. RESULTS: We successfully obtained 4KO piglets with deficiency in all alleles of genes, and at cellular and tissue levels. Additionally, the safety of our animals after gene editing was verified by using whole-genome sequencing and karyotyping. Piglets have survived for more than one year in the barrier, and also survived for more than 3 months in the conventional environment, suggesting that the piglets without MHC II can be raised in the barrier and then gradually mated in the conventional environment. CONCLUSIONS: 4KO piglets have lower immunogenicity, are safe in genomic level, and are easier to breed than the model with both MHC I and II deletion.

Efficacy of dupilumab in the treatment of severe vulvar pruritus associated with lichen sclerosus et atrophicus: a case report.

Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA) is a chronic inflammatory skin lesion with an undefined cause. It is more commonly found in the genital area, particularly in adolescents, premenopausal women and postmenopausal women. LSA is difficult to treat and often recurs. The primary treatment for LSA involves the administration of potent topical corticosteroids. Dupilumab is increasingly being used for the treatment of itching in non-atopic dermatitis patients but there are few reports on its use for the treatment of LSA. Here, we present a case of LSA in a 61-year-old woman with extensive vulvar itching. Over four months of dupilumab therapy, significant therapeutic effects were observed, including vulvar skin thinning and pruritus relief without adverse reactions.

Efficacy and safety of regorafenib in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The majority of studies of regorafenib now were small-sample and single-arm, which potentially limits the strength of evidence. We conduct the study to identify the efficacy and safety of regorafenib for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in real-world applications. Methods: mCRC patients who underwent regorafenib second line or post-second line treatment with at least one assessable lesion were analyzed. Patients received different doses of regorafenib and different combination regimens. The patients were followed up with laboratory tests and imaging examinations every 3 months to evaluate the efficacy and adverse events (AEs). The primary endpoint of this study was median overall survival (mOS), and the secondary endpoints were median progression-free survival (mPFS), the objective response rate (ORR), the disease control rate (DCR), and AEs. Results: A total of 77 patients (45 males and 32 females, aged 58.80±11.65 years) were enrolled in the study. Most primary tumors were located in the rectum (59.74%), and the vast majority of tumors (89.62%) had an adenocarcinoma histological type. The 77 patients had an mOS of 17.8 months, a progression-free survival (PFS) of 4.63 months, an ORR of 6.76%, and a DCR of 55.41%. Patients underwent regorafenib third-line therapy had significantly higher overall survival (OS) than those underwent regorafenib post- third-line treatment (P=0.03). The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was an independent factor affecting the OS of the mCRC patients [hazard ratio (HR) =1.12, P=0.03]. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, discontinued use of regorafenib after progression reduced patients' PFS (HR =3.07, P<0.001; HR =2.78, P=0.007). In terms of the tolerated dose, patients receiving 120 mg regorafenib had the longest OS numbers, but there was no statistical difference. We analyzed the effect of the baseline NLR on the OS of patients receiving regorafenib combined with immunotherapy, and found that the NLR ratio cut-off value was 4.4, and patients with a NLR ratio ≤4.4 benefited significantly in terms of OS (P=0.03). The AEs included 21 (27.27%) cases of hand and foot skin reaction, 15 (19.48%) cases of fatigue, 9 (11.69%) cases of pain, 9 (11.69%) cases of nausea, 9 (11.69%) cases of fever, 9 (11.69%) cases of cough, and so on. Conclusions: Regorafenib is relatively effective and safe as a third-line and posterior treatment of mCRC. Patients underwent regorafenib third-line therapy had longer OS than those underwent regorafenib post- third-line treatment. Moreover, PFS benefits can still be obtained by continuing regorafenib treatment after progression. Grade 1-2 AEs were common, but these were usually tolerated by most patients.

Pb(II) Adsorption Properties of a Three-Dimensional Porous Bacterial Cellulose/Graphene Oxide Composite Hydrogel Subjected to Ultrasonic Treatment.

A three-dimensional porous bacterial cellulose/graphene oxide (BC/GO) composite hydrogel (BC/GO) was synthesized with multi-layer graphene oxide (GO) as the modifier and bacterial cellulose as the skeleton via an ultrasonic shaking process to absorb lead ions effectively. The characteristics of BC/GO were investigated through TEM, SEM, FT-IR, NMR and Zeta potential experiments. Compared to bacterial cellulose, the ultrasonic method and the carboxyl groups stemming from GO helped to enhance the availability of O(3)H of BC, in addition to the looser three-dimensional structure and enriched oxygen-containing groups, leading to a significantly higher adsorption capacity for Pb(II). In this paper, the adsorption behavior of BC/GO is influenced by the GO concentration, adsorption time, and initial concentration. The highest adsorption capacity for Pb(II) on BC/GO found in this study was 224.5 mg/g. The findings implied that the pseudo-second-order model explained the BC/GO adsorption dynamics and that the data of its adsorption isotherm fit the Freundlich model. Because of the looser three-dimensional structure, the complexation of carboxyl groups, and the enhanced availability of O(3)H, bacterial cellulose exhibited a much better adsorption capacity.

The Identification of Kabatiella zeae as a Causal Agent of Northern Anthracnose of Sorghum in China and Estimation of Host Resistance.

Sorghum northern anthracnose is a leaf disease affecting sorghum, which results in plant death and substantial yield loss. This study aimed to effectively understand the disease, clarify its biological characteristics, and evaluate the resistance of germplasm resources. A field sample was collected to isolate and purify the pathogen. The pathogen, identified as Kabatiella zeae Narita et Hiratsuka using both morphological and molecular techniques, was further confirmed as the causative agent of northern anthracnose of sorghum following Robert Koch's principles. The results revealed the optimal culture temperature to be 25 °C, preferred dark culture conditions, and the best growth on potato glucose agar medium with sucrose and L-leucine as the optimal carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. A total of 138 sorghum germplasm resources were inoculated and evaluated using the isolated pathogen, with 20 lines (14.49%) exhibiting high resistance, 18 lines (13.04%) showing disease resistance, 27 lines (19.57%) demonstrating medium resistance, 37 lines (26.81%) being susceptible, and 36 lines (26.09%) classified as highly susceptible. The indoor fungicide screening was conducted through pathogen medium application, and enilconazole, pyraclostrobin, methylthiophanate, and flusilazole were screened for the best fungicide inhibition with a 100% inhibition rate compared with the control. This study provides reference for field pharmaceutical control in sorghum production.

Children's Iodine Intake from Dairy Products and Related Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study in Two Provinces of China.

Dairy products are a significant source of iodine, and their contribution to iodine intake must be evaluated regularly. However, there is a lack of data on iodine intake from dairy products in China. Through a cross-sectional study, we determined the iodine content of dairy products in the Chinese diet and estimated iodine intake among Chinese children. Intake records for 30 consecutive days were used to investigate the consumption of dairy products by 2009 children from Yunnan and Liaoning Provinces. The iodine contents of 266 dairy products with high intake frequency were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We then calculated the iodine intake and contribution of dairy products and explored the related factors of dairy iodine intake through a generalized linear mixed model. Ultra-high-temperature (UHT) sterilized milk accounted for 78.7% of the total dairy products, with an iodine content of 23.0 µg/100 g. The dairy product intake rate of children in China was 83.6%, with an average daily intake of 143.1 g. The median iodine intake from milk and dairy was 26.8 µg/d, 41.5% of the estimated average recommendation (EAR) for younger children and 31.8% of the EAR for older children. The daily milk iodine intake of children in Yunnan Province was 9.448 µg/day lower than that of children in Liaoning Province (p < 0.001), and the daily iodine intake of children in rural areas was 17.958 µg/day lower than that of children in urban areas (p < 0.001). Chinese dairy products were rich in iodine, and the content of iodine was intermediate to that reported in Europe and the USA. However, children's daily intake of milk iodine was lower than that of children in other developed countries due to the lower daily intake of dairy products, especially those in rural areas.

A portability self-powered sensor facilitates sensitive Cd2+ detection: Dual mechanism and three quantitative mode.

As a common heavy metal contaminant, Cd2+ has adverse effects on food safety and consumer health. It is very important for human health to realize highly sensitive Cd2+ detection methods. The self-powered sensing system based on enzyme biofuel cells (EBFCs) does not need an external power supply, which can simplify the experimental equipment and has great application value in portable detection. Thus, the biosensor is innovatively integrated into the screen-printed electrode to construct a new type of portable sensor suitable for on-site and real-time Cd2+ detection. Hybridization chain reaction (HCR) combined with the Cd2+-dependent deoxyribose (DNAzyme) signal amplification strategy is used to enhance the detection sensitivity while specifically recognizing the Cd2+. Moreover, the self-powered sensor combines with smartphones to realize quantitative Cd2+ detection without other instruments and has the characteristic of Effectively improving the hazard detection technology is essential to ensure food safety. Portability, simplicity, and speed are suitable for real-time Cd2+ detection in the field. The dual mechanism and three quantitative modes combining colorimetric and two electrical signals output modes are adopted to realize the visualization and accurate detection. A series of research results confirm that this strategy is of great significance to strengthen the development of intelligent Cd2+ technology, expand the application of self-powered sensing technology, and improve the safety detection system.

Heavy metals and elderly kidney health: A multidimensional study through Enviro-target Mendelian Randomization.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), closely linked to environmental factors, poses a significant public health challenge. This study, based on 529 triple-repeated measures from key national environmental pollution area and multiple gene-related public databases, employs various epidemiological and bioinformatics models to assess the impact of combined heavy metal exposure (Chromium [Cr], Cadmium [Cd], and Lead [Pb]) on early renal injury and CKD in the elderly. Introducing the novel Enviro-Target Mendelian Randomization method, our research explores the causal relationship between metals and CKD. The findings indicate a positive correlation between increased levels of metal and renal injury, with combined exposure caused renal damage more significantly than individual exposure. The study reveals that metals primarily influence CKD development through oxidative stress and metal ion resistance pathways, focusing on three related genes (SOD2, MPO, NQO1) and a transcription factor (NFE2L2). Metals were found to regulate oxidative stress levels in the body by increasing the expression of SOD2, MPO, NQO1, and decreasing NFE2L2, leading to CKD onset. Our research establishes a new causal inference framework linking environmental pollutants-pathways-genes-CKD, assessing the impact and mechanisms of metal exposure on CKD. Future studies with more extensive in vitro evidence and larger population are needed to validate.

Identification of hub genes associated with diabetic cardiomyopathy using integrated bioinformatics analysis.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a common cardiovascular complication of diabetes, which may threaten the quality of life and shorten life expectancy in the diabetic population. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the diabetes cardiomyopathy are not fully elucidated. We analyzed two datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Differentially expressed and weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was used to screen key genes and molecules. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis were constructed to identify hub genes. The diagnostic value of the hub gene was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC). Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to validate the hub genes. A total of 13 differentially co-expressed modules were selected by WGCNA and differential expression analysis. KEGG and GO analysis showed these DEGs were mainly enriched in lipid metabolism and myocardial hypertrophy pathway, cytomembrane, and mitochondrion. As a result, six genes were identified as hub genes. Finally, five genes (Pdk4, Lipe, Serpine1, Igf1r, and Bcl2l1) were found significantly changed in both the validation dataset and experimental mice with DCM. In conclusion, the present study identified five genes that may help provide novel targets for diagnosing and treating DCM.

A pilot study on oral microbiome in electronic cigarettes consumers versus traditional cigarettes smokers.

Oral microorganisms are closely related to oral health, the occurrence of some oral diseases is associated with changes in the oral microbiota, and many studies have demonstrated that traditional smoking can affect the oral microbial community. However, due to the short time since the emergence of e-cigarettes, fewer studies are comparing oral microorganisms for users of e-cigarettes versus cigarettes. We collected saliva from 40 non-smokers (NS), 46 traditional cigarette smokers (TS), and 27 e-cigarette consumers (EC), aged between 18 and 35 years. We performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing on the saliva samples collected to study the effects of e-cigarettes versus traditional cigarettes on the oral microbiome. The results showed that compared with the NS group, the alpha diversity of oral flora in saliva was altered in the TS group, with no significant change in the e-cigarette group. Compared with the NS and EC groups, the relative abundance of Actinomyces and Prevotella was increased in the TS group. However, compared with the NS and TS groups, the relative abundance of Veillonella was increased, and the relative abundance of Porphyromonas and Peptostreptococcus was decreased in the EC group. These results showed that both e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes could alter the structure and composition of oral microbiota. The use of traditional cigarettes promotes the growth of some anaerobic bacteria, which may contribute to dental decay and bad breath over time. E-cigarettes have a different effect on the structure and composition of the oral microbial community compared to conventional cigarettes. In order to better understand the effects of e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes on users' mouths, future studies will investigate the relationship between diseases such as dental caries and periodontitis and changes in oral microbial species levels.