Alterations of resting-state network dynamics in Alzheimer's disease based on leading eigenvector dynamics analysis.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered a transitional stage between healthy aging and dementia. Early detection of MCI can help slow down the progression of AD. At present, there are few studies exploring the characteristics of abnormal dynamic brain activity in AD. This article uses a method called Leading Eigenvector Dynamics Analysis (LEiDA) to study resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data of AD, MCI, and cognitively normal (CN) participants. By identifying repetitive states of phase coherence, inter group differences in brain dynamic activity indicators are examined. And the neurobehavioral scales were used to assess the relationship between abnormal dynamic activities and cognitive function. The results showed that in the indicators of occurrence probability and lifetime, the globally synchronized state of the patient group decreased. The activity state of the limbic regions significantly detected the difference between AD and the other two groups. Compared to CN, AD and MCI have varying degrees of increase in default and visual regions activity states. In addition, in the analysis related to the cognitive scales, it was found that individuals with poorer cognitive abilities were less active in the globally synchronized state, and more active in limbic regions activity state and visual regions activity state. Taken together, these findings reveal abnormal dynamic activity of resting-state networks in patients with AD and MCI, provide new insights into the dynamic analysis of brain networks, and contribute to a deeper understanding of abnormal spatial dynamic patterns in AD patients.

Finding the best predictive model for hypertensive depression in older adults based on machine learning and metabolomics research.

Objective: Depression is a common comorbidity in hypertensive older adults, yet depression is more difficult to diagnose correctly. Our goal is to find predictive models of depression in hypertensive patients using a combination of various machine learning (ML) methods and metabolomics. Methods: Methods We recruited 379 elderly people aged ≥65 years from the Chinese community. Plasma samples were collected and assayed by gas chromatography/liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/LC-MS). Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), volcano diagrams and thermograms were used to distinguish metabolites. The attribute discriminators CfsSubsetEval combined with search method BestFirst in WEKA software was used to find the best predicted metabolite combinations, and then 24 classification methods with 10-fold cross-validation were used for prediction. Results: 34 individuals were considered hypertensive combined with depression according to our criteria, and 34 subjects with hypertension only were matched according to age and sex. 19 metabolites by GC-MS and 65 metabolites by LC-MS contributed significantly to the differentiation between the depressed and non-depressed cohorts, with a VIP value of more than 1 and a P value of less than 0.05. There were multiple metabolic pathway alterations. The metabolite combinations screened with WEKA for optimal diagnostic value included 12 metabolites. The machine learning methods with AUC values greater than 0.9 were bayesNet and random forests, and their other evaluation measures are also better. Conclusion: Altered metabolites and metabolic pathways are present in older adults with hypertension combined with depression. Methods using metabolomics and machine learning performed quite well in predicting depression in hypertensive older adults, contributing to further clinical research.

The p38/MAPK pathway as a therapeutic target to prevent therapeutic escape of breast cancer stem cells.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play an important role in metastasis development, tumor recurrence, and treatment resistance, and are essential for the eradication of cancer. Currently, therapies fail to eradicate CSCs due to their therapeutic stress-induced cellular escape, which leads to enhanced aggressive behaviors compared with CSCs that have never been treated. However, the underlying mechanisms regulating the therapeutic escape remain unknown. To this end, we established a model to isolate the therapeutic escaped CSCs (TSCSCs) from breast CSCs and performed the transcription profile to reveal the mechanism. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that the behavior of therapeutic escape was regulated through the p38/MAPK signaling pathway, resulting in TSCSCs exhibiting enhanced motility and metastasis. Notably, blocking the p38/MAPK signaling pathway effectively reduced motility and metastasis ability both in vitro and in vivo, which were further supported by downregulated motility-related genes and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins vimentin and N-cadherin. The obtained findings reveal the p38/MAPK pathway as a potential therapeutic target for TSCSCs and would provide profound implications for cancer therapy.

Metabolic signatures and risk of sarcopenia in suburb-dwelling older individuals by LC-MS-based untargeted metabonomics.

Background: Untargeted metabonomics has provided new insight into the pathogenesis of sarcopenia. In this study, we explored plasma metabolic signatures linked to a heightened risk of sarcopenia in a cohort study by LC-MS-based untargeted metabonomics. Methods: In this nested case-control study from the Adult Physical Fitness and Health Cohort Study (APFHCS), we collected blood plasma samples from 30 new-onset sarcopenia subjects (mean age 73.2 ± 5.6 years) and 30 healthy controls (mean age 74.2 ± 4.6 years) matched by age, sex, BMI, lifestyle, and comorbidities. An untargeted metabolomics methodology was employed to discern the metabolomic profile alterations present in individuals exhibiting newly diagnosed sarcopenia. Results: In comparing individuals with new-onset sarcopenia to normal controls, a comprehensive analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) identified a total of 62 metabolites, predominantly comprising lipids, lipid-like molecules, organic acids, and derivatives. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that the three metabolites hypoxanthine (AUC=0.819, 95% CI=0.711-0.927), L-2-amino-3-oxobutanoic acid (AUC=0.733, 95% CI=0.598-0.868) and PC(14:0/20:2(11Z,14Z)) (AUC= 0.717, 95% CI=0.587-0.846) had the highest areas under the curve. Then, these significant metabolites were observed to be notably enriched in four distinct metabolic pathways, namely, "purine metabolism"; "parathyroid hormone synthesis, secretion and action"; "choline metabolism in cancer"; and "tuberculosis". Conclusion: The current investigation elucidates the metabolic perturbations observed in individuals diagnosed with sarcopenia. The identified metabolites hold promise as potential biomarkers, offering avenues for exploring the underlying pathological mechanisms associated with sarcopenia.

Asymmetric three-component Tsuji-Trost allylation reaction enabled by chiral aldehyde/palladium combined catalysis.

Despite the long-standing exploration of the catalytic asymmetric Tsuji-Trost allylation reaction since the mid-20th century, most reported instances have adhered to a two-component approach. Here, we present a remarkably efficient three-component asymmetric allylation reaction enabled by the collaborative action of chiral aldehyde and palladium. A diverse array of NH2-unprotected amino acid esters, aryl or alkenyl iodides, and allyl alcohol esters exhibit robust participation in this reaction, resulting in the synthesis of structurally diverse non-proteinogenic α-amino acid esters with favorable experimental outcomes. Mechanistic investigations reveal the dominance of the allylation/Heck coupling cascade in reactions involving electron-rich aryl iodides, while the Heck coupling/allylation cascade emerges as the dominant pathway in reactions involving electron-deficient aryl iodides. This chiral aldehyde/palladium combining catalytic system precisely governs the chemoselectivity of C-allylation and N-allylation, the regioselectivity of linear and branched allylation, and the enantioselectivity of C-allylation products.

Effects of Artificial Aging on Rice Lysophospholipids.

Lysophospholipids (LPLs) represent a major class of polar lipids crucial for rice's nutritional and functional properties. This study investigates the impact of varying storage temperatures (20, 30, and 40 °C) and humidity (50 and 95%) on the nonstarch and starch LPLs of paddy and milled rice. The findings revealed that the average nonstarch LPL content in paddy rice aged at 20 °C (82.6 µg/g) and 40 °C (83.6 µg/g) was significantly lower than that at 30 °C (95.0 µg/g). The nonstarch LPL content of milled rice aged at 20 °C (78.0 µg/g) was significantly higher than that at 30 and 40 °C. High storage temperature (40 °C) and humidity (95%) resulted in a significant reduction in rice total starch LPC and LPE content when compared to low humidity (50%). The ratio of rice starch/nonstarch LPL components such as LPC16:0 and LPC18:2 remarkably increased with increased storage temperature and humidity.

Bioactive Phenylpropanoid Glycosides, Dimers, and Heterodimers from the Bark of Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Presl.

Six new phenylpropanoid glycosides (1-6), two new phenylethanol glycosides (7 and 8), one new phenylmethanol glycoside (9), three new phenylpropanoid dimers (10-12), two new phenylpropanoid-flavan-3-ol heterodimers (13 and 14), and six known relevant compounds (15-20) were isolated and identified from the well-liked edible and medicinal substance (the bark of Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Presl). The structures of these isolates were determined by using spectroscopic analyses, chemical methods, and quantum chemical calculations. Notably, compounds 4-9 were rare apiuronyl-containing glycosides, and compounds 13 and 14 were heterodimers of phenylpropanoids and flavan-3-ols linked through C-9″-C-8 bonds. The antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of all isolates were evaluated. Compounds 10 and 12 exhibited DPPH radical scavenging capacities with IC50 values of 20.1 and 13.0 µM, respectively (vitamin C IC50 value of 14.3 µM). In the ORAC experiment, all these compounds exhibited different levels of capacity for scavenging free radicals, and compound 10 displayed extraordinary free radical scavenging capacity with the ORAC value of 6.42 ± 0.01 µM TE/µM (EGCG ORAC value of 1.54 ± 0.02 µM TE/µM). Compound 12 also showed significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC50 of 56.3 µM (acarbose IC50 of 519.4 µM).

Recent Advances and Multiple Strategies of Monoterpenoid Overproduction in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Yarrowia lipolytica.

Monoterpenoids are an important subclass of terpenoids that play important roles in the energy, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and fragrances fields. With the development of biotechnology, microbial synthesis of monoterpenoids has received great attention. Yeasts such Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Yarrowia lipolytica are emerging as potential hosts for monoterpenoids production because of unique advantages including rapid growth cycles, mature gene editing tools, and clear genetic background. Recently, advancements in metabolic engineering and fermentation engineering have significantly enhanced the accumulation of monoterpenoids in cell factories. First, this review introduces the biosynthetic pathway of monoterpenoids and comprehensively summarizes the latest production strategies, which encompass enhancing precursor flux, modulating the expression of rate-limited enzymes, suppressing competitive pathway flux, mitigating cytotoxicity, optimizing substrate utilization, and refining the fermentation process. Subsequently, this review introduces four representative monoterpenoids. Finally, we outline the future prospects for efficient construction cell factories tailored for the production of monoterpenoids and other terpenoids.

Suicidal ideation in adolescents with adiponectin receptor 2 rs12342 polymorphism affected by Wenchuan earthquake.

PURPOSE: The present study was to investigate prevalence of suicidal ideation and its associations with biological and environmental factors in adolescents with different genotypes of rs12342 at adiponectin receptor 2 gene (ADIPOR2). METHODS: Suicidal ideation, biological and environmental factors were evaluated by questionnaires in 669 high school students after Wenchuan earthquake in China. ADIPOR2 rs12342 was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and verified by DNA sequencing. RESULTS: Female adolescents had higher prevalence of suicidal ideation than male students in AG heterozygote and GG homozygote, but not AA homozygote. Prevalence of suicidal ideation was different in male, but not female, subjects with different genotypes. Genotype and allele frequencies were significantly different between male students with and without suicidal ideation, but not the female counterparts. Family history of mental disorders, extent of damage to property, carbohydrate intake and protein intake were associated with suicidal ideation in female subjects, while ADIPOR2 rs12342, father's educational level and previous trauma experience were associated with suicidal ideation in male subjects. CONCLUSION: ADIPOR2 rs12342 is associated with and has potential to interact with environmental factors on suicidal ideation in a gender-dependent manner in youth. These findings pave a novel way and perspective for precision inferences of suicidal ideation in subjects with different genetic backgrounds. ADIPOR2 rs12342 needs to be considered when intervening suicidal ideation, especially in adolescents.

Butyrate attenuates sympathetic activation in rats with chronic heart failure by inhibiting microglial inflammation in the paraventricular nucleus.

Sympathetic activation is a hallmark of heart failure and the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Butyrate is generated by gut microbiota and influences numerous physiological and pathological processes in the host. The present study aims to investigate whether the intestinal metabolite butyrate reduces sympathetic activation in rats with heart failure (HF) and the underlying mechanisms involved. Sprague-Dawley rats (220‒250 g) are anaesthetized with isoflurane, and the left anterior descending artery is ligated to model HF. Then, the rats are treated with or without butyrate sodium (NaB, a donor of butyrate, 10 g/L in water) for 8 weeks. Blood pressure and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) are recorded to assess sympathetic outflow. Cardiac function is improved (mean ejection fraction, 22.6%±4.8% vs 38.3%±5.3%; P<0.05), and sympathetic activation is decreased (RSNA, 36.3%±7.9% vs 23.9%±7.6%; P<0.05) in HF rats treated with NaB compared with untreated HF rats. The plasma and cerebrospinal fluid levels of norepinephrine are decreased in HF rats treated with NaB. The infusion of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) into the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus of HF model rats increases sympathetic nervous activity by upregulating the NMDA receptor. Microglia polarized to the M2 phenotype and inflammation are markedly attenuated in the PVN of HF model rats after NaB administration. In addition, HF model rats treated with NaB exhibit enhanced intestinal barrier function and increased levels of GPR109A, zona occludens-1 and occludin, but decreased levels of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and zonulin. In conclusion, butyrate attenuates sympathetic activation and improves cardiac function in rats with HF. The improvements in intestinal barrier function, reductions in microglia-mediated inflammation and decreases in NMDA receptor 1 expression in the PVN are all due to the protective effects of NaB.

Abnormal sleep patterns are associated with depressive symptoms in Chinese community-dwelling older adults.

OBJECTIVE: Depression is an important public health issue among older adults, often associated with their sleep-related problems. We aimed to investigate the association between sleep-related problems and depressive symptoms among Chinese community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilized self-reported data from 2896 participants (aged ≥60 years) from Shanghai, China. Nocturnal sleep duration and difficulty initiating sleep (DIS) symptoms were obtained through face-to-face questionnaires. Nocturnal sleep duration was categorized as 'short' (<7 h), 'normal' (7-8 h), and 'long' (>8 h). Subsequently, the 3 groups were further divided into 6 groups based on the presence of DIS, and the combined sleep behaviors were termed 'sleep patterns'. Logistic regression was conducted to assess the association of sleep variables and sleep patterns with the risk of depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Compared to the reference group, 'short sleep duration' and DIS symptoms were associated with depressive symptoms (with odds ratios (OR) of 1.50 and 1.79, respectively, with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 1.14-1.97 and 1.39-2.31). When compared to 'normal sleep duration without DIS', both 'short sleep duration with DIS' (OR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.81-3.72) and 'normal sleep duration with DIS' (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.03-2.49) were statistically associated with depressive symptoms in adjusted regression models. CONCLUSION: Short sleep duration and DIS symptoms were found to be associated with depressive symptoms. Combining DIS symptoms with sleep duration, DIS was identified as a risk factor for elevated depressive symptoms in individuals with short and normal sleep durations. In managing depressive symptoms, it is imperative to thoroughly evaluate insomnia and nighttime sleep, which can provide valuable insights for nursing and medical policy.

Association of physical performance with cognitive impairment in middle-aged to older haemodialysis patients: a multicentre cross-sectional observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of cognitive impairment (CI) among middle-aged to older patients receiving maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) and to investigate the potential association between CI and physical performance. METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study enrolled participants aged 55-85 years who received MHD. Cognitive status was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Physical performance was measured by hand grip strength, the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) and the 4-m walking speed. Sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory parameters were recorded for each patient. RESULTS: The study included 592 patients (363 males); and of these, 126 (21.3%) were diagnosed with CI. Compared with patients with normal cognitive function, those with CI were significantly older and had significantly longer dialysis duration, lower educational level, higher Malnutrition Inflammation Score, higher depression and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score. After adjustment for covariates, multiple regression analysis suggested that grip strength (odds ratio [OR] = 0.959, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.924, 0.996) and 4-m walking speed (OR = 0.161, 95% CI = 0.070, 0.368) were protective factors. TUGT (OR = 1.037, 95%CI = 1.003, 1.071) was a risk factor. CONCLUSION: Physical performance was correlated with CI and might be a significant indicator for the early identification of CI in middle-aged to older MHD patients.

Hydrogen Sulfide Ameliorates Heart Aging by Downregulating Matrix Metalloproteinase-9.

PURPOSE: Aging contributes significantly to cardiovascular diseases and cardiac dysfunction, leading to the upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the heart and a significant decrease in hydrogen sulfide (H2S) content, coupled with impaired cardiac diastolic function. This study explores whether supplementing exogenous hydrogen sulfide during aging ameliorates the decline in H2S concentration in the heart, suppresses MMP-9 expression, and improves the age-associated impairment in cardiac morphology and function. METHODS: We collected plasma from healthy individuals of different ages to determine the relationship between aging and H2S and MMP-9 levels through Elisa detection and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MC) detection of plasma H2S content. Three-month-old mice were selected as the young group, while 18-month-old mice were selected as the old group, and sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) was injected intraperitoneally from 15 months old until 18 months old as the old + NaHS group. Plasma MMP-9 content was detected using Elisa, plasma H2S content, cardiac H2S content, and cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE) activity were detected using LC/MC, and cardiac function was detected using echocardiography. Heart structure was assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masone staining was used to detect the degree of cardiac fibrosis, while western blot was used to detect the expression of MMP-9, CSE, and aging marker proteins. Knockdown of MMP-9 and CSE in H9c2 cells using small interfering RNA was carried out to determine the upstream-downstream relationship between MMP-9 and CSE. RESULTS: H2S content in the plasma of healthy individuals decreases with escalating age, whereas MMP-9 level rises with age progression. Aging leads to a decrease in H2S levels in the heart and plasma of mice, severe impairment of cardiac diastolic function, interstitial relaxation, and fibrosis of the heart. Supplementing with exogenous H2S can improve these phenomena. CONCLUSION: H2S maintains the structure and function of the heart by inhibiting the expression of MMP-9 during the aging process.

Integrated Solution for As(III) Contamination in Water Based on Crystalline Porous Organic Salts.

A stable crystalline organic porous salt (CPOSs-NXU-1) with 1D apertures has been assembled by the solvothermal method, which shows high-sensitivity "turn-on" fluorescence detection and large-capacity adsorption of As(III) ions in water. The detection limits, saturated adsorption capacity, and removal rate of CPOSs-NXU-1 for As(III) ions in an aqueous solution can reach 74.34 nm (5.57 ppb), 451.01 mg g-1, and 99.6%, respectively, at pH = 7 and room temperature. With the aid of XPS, IR, Raman, and DFT theoretical calculations, it is determined that CPOSs-NXU-1 adsorbed As(III) ions in the form of H2AsO3 - and H3AsO3 through hydrogen bonding between the host and guest. The mechanism for fluorescence sensitization of As(III) ions to CPOSs-NXU-1 is mainly to increase the energy level difference between the ground state and excited state investigated by UV-vis absorption spectra, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra, and theoretical calculations. By constructing fluorescent CPOSs, an integrated solution has been achieved to treating As(III) contamination in the water that is equipped with detection and removal. These results blaze a promising path for addressing trivalent arsenic contamination in water efficiently, rapidly, and economically.

Functional Characterization of PoEP1 in Regulating the Flowering Stage of Tree Peony.

The tree peony, a traditional flower in China, has a short and concentrated flowering period, restricting the development of the tree peony industry. To explore the molecular mechanism of tree peony flowering-stage regulation, PoEP1, which regulated the flowering period, was identified and cloned based on the transcriptome and degradome data of the early-flowering mutant Paeonia ostii 'Fengdan' (MU) and Paeonia ostii 'Fengdan' (FD). Through bioinformatics analysis, expression pattern analysis, and transgene function verification, the role of PoEP1 in the regulation of tree peony flowering was explored. The open-reading frame of PoEP1 is 1161 bp, encoding 386 amino acids, containing two conserved domains. PoEP1 was homologous to the EP1 of other species. Subcellular localization results showed that the protein was localized in the cell wall and that PoEP1 expression was highest in the initial decay stage of the tree peony. The overexpression of PoEP1 in transgenic plants advanced and shortened the flowering time, indicating that PoEP1 overexpression promotes flowering and senescence and shorten the flowering time of plants. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for exploring the role of PoEP1 in the regulation of tree peony flowering.

Photocatalytic removal of ammonia nitrogen from water: investigations and challenges for enhanced activity.

Ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N/NH4+-N) serves as a crucial chemical in biochemistry and fertilizer synthesis. However, it is also a toxic compound, posing risks from eutrophication to direct threats to human health. Ammonia nitrogen pollution pervades water sources, presenting a significant challenge. While several water treatment technologies exist, biological treatment, though widely used, has its limitations. Hence, green and efficient photocatalytic technology emerges as a promising solution. However, current monolithic semiconductor photocatalysts prove inadequate in controlling ammonia nitrogen pollution. Therefore, this review focuses on enhancing semiconductor photocatalysts' efficiency through modification, discussing four mechanisms: (1) mono-ionic modification; (2) metallic and non-metallic modification; (3) construct heterojunctions; and (4) enhancement of synergistic effects of multiple technologies. The influencing factors of photocatalytic ammonia nitrogen removal efficiency are also explored. Moreover, the review outlines the limitations of current photocatalytic pollution treatment and discusses future development trends and research challenges. Currently, the main products of ammonia nitrogen removal include NO3-, NO2-, and N2. To mitigate secondary pollution, the green process of converting ammonia nitrogen to N2 using photocatalysis emerges as a fundamental approach for future treatment. Overall, this review aims to deepen understanding of photocatalysis in ammonia nitrogen treatment and guide researchers toward widespread implementation of this endeavor.

Acid-resistant chitosan/graphene oxide adsorbent for Cu2+ removal: The role of mixed cross-linking and amino-functionalized.

Copper ions in wastewater pose a significant threat to human and ecological safety. Therefore, preparing macroscopic adsorbents with reusable and high adsorption performance is paramount. This paper used graphene oxide as the adsorbent and chitosan as the thickener. Additionally, a silane coupling agent was employed to enhance the acid resistance of chitosan, and amino-modification of graphene oxide was performed. Macroscopic adsorbents with high adsorption capacity were fabricated using 3D printing technology. The results show that all five proportions of inks exhibit good printability. Dissolution experiments revealed that all materials maintained structural integrity after 180 days across pH values. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the successful preparation of the materials. Adsorption experiments showed that the best performing material ratio was 8 wt% graphene oxide and 7 wt% chitosan. Adsorption kinetics and isothermal adsorption experiments demonstrated that the adsorption process occurred via monolayer chemisorption. The adsorption process was attributed to strong electrostatic forces, van der Waals forces, and nitrogen/oxygen-containing functional group coordination. Cycling experiments showed that the material retained good adsorption performance after 6 cycles, suggesting its potential for practical heavy metal treatment applications.

Effect of cervical pillow in phacoemulsification surgery for age-related cataract patients: a prospective randomized controlled study.

PURPOSE: To explore the application effect of cervical pillow in phacoemulsification surgery for age-related cataract patients. METHODS: 104 cases of age-related cataract patients admitted to our hospital in June 2023 were enrolled and divided into the control group (traditional supine position) and the experimental group (the cervical pillow supine position) by the digital parity method (52 cases per group). The two groups were evaluated for the discomfort score, the satisfaction of patients and doctors, the head displacement rate, the number of displacement, the operation time and the time of body position during the operation and after the operation. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the gender (P = 0.84), age (P = 0.86), course of disease (P = 0.82) and the time spent on position placement (P = 0.15) of the two groups. The patient in the experimental group had lower discomfort score (P = 0.0001), higher patients satisfaction (P = 0.0001) and higher doctors satisfaction (P = 0.0001) than patients in the control group. There was no significant difference between the experimental group and the control group in the proportion of intraoperative (P = 0.36) and postoperative pain (P = 0.65). Besides, the number of head transfers (P = 0.001), number of head shifts (P = 0.0001), the surgical time (P = 0.0001) and laparoscopic time (P = 0.0001) in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group. CONCLUSION: The additional cervical pillow for age-related cataract patients in the traditional supine position during the operation will not increase the preparation time before the operation, but will help improve the patient satisfaction, improve the comfort and maintain a good position of the operative eye field, bringing obvious comfort and smooth operation for the surgeon in the operation, thus reducing the risk of the operation, shortening the operation time.

Study on the value of Inhibin B in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its correlation with traditional Chinese medicine syndromes: An observational study.

To investigate the expression of Inhibin B between various clinical stages, Chinese medicine dialectic typing, and in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tissues and serum, and to evaluate the potential of Inhibin B as a new biomarker for NPC. Paraffin specimens of pathologically confirmed NPC tissues and paracancerous tissues were retrospectively collected, and the expression of Inhibin α (INHA) and Inhibin ßB (INHBB) was detected by SP method, and their relationship with clinicopathological indexes was analyzed; in addition, patients with NPC who had received radiotherapy were included as the study subjects, and Epstein-Barr virus DNA (EBV-DNA), INHA, and INHBB in patients were detected by using the fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and chemiluminescent immuno-sandwiching method, respectively. EBV-DNA, EBV-viral capsid antigen-immunoglobulin A (VCA IgA), INHA, and INHBB were detected in the patients, respectively, and their relationships with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) patterns were also analyzed. The expression of INHA and INHBB in NPC tissues was lower than that in paracancerous tissues, and the expression of INHA in NPC patients was correlated with lymphatic metastasis, clinical staging, and TCM staging; the levels of EBV-DNA and VCA IgA were higher than that of healthy populations in NPC patients and were higher than that of patients with stage III + IV than that of patients with stage I + II, and the levels of INHA and INHBB were lower than those of healthy populations and were lower than those of patients with stage III + IV than that of patients with stage I + II. The levels of INHA and INHBB in nasopharyngeal cancer patients were lower than those in healthy people, and the levels in stage III + IV patients were lower than those in stage I + II patients. The levels of EBV-DNA and VCA IgA in nasopharyngeal cancer patients were correlated with the Chinese medicine patterns, and had different patterns. The expression of Inhibin B may be related to the progression of NPC, and it has certain typing significance for different TCM syndromes of NPC, which is helpful for TCM typing diagnosis.

Association of osteoporosis with sarcopenia and its components among community-dwelling older Chinese adults with different obesity levels: A cross-sectional study.

We aimed to investigate whether sarcopenia and its components are associated with osteoporosis in community-dwelling older Chinese adults with different obesity levels. This cross-sectional study included 1938 participants (42.1% male) with a mean age of 72.1 ±â€…5.9 years. The categorization of individuals into various weight categories was based on the Working Group on Obesity in China's criteria, utilizing the body mass index (BMI) as follows: underweight, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2; normal weight, 18.5 ≤ BMI < 24 kg/m2; overweight, 24 ≤ BMI < 28 kg/m2; and obesity, BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2. In this research, the osteoporosis definition put forth by the World Health Organization (bone mineral density T-score less than or equal to -2.5 as assessed by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)). Sarcopenia was defined according to the diagnostic criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. The prevalence of osteoporosis was highest in the underweight group and gradually decreased with increasing BMI (Underweight: 55.81% vs Normal weight: 45.33% vs Overweight: 33.69% vs Obesity: 22.39). Sarcopenia was associated with elevated odds of osteoporosis in normal-weight subjects independent of potential covariates (OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.22-2.35, P = .002). In normal-weight participants, a higher appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) was associated with a reduced risk of osteoporosis (OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.42-0.74, P < .001). In this study, we found that the prevalence of osteoporosis was highest in the underweight group and gradually decreased with increasing BMI. Sarcopenia, body fat percentage, and ASMI were associated with elevated odds of osteoporosis in normal-weight subjects independent of potential covariates, and higher percent body fat (PBF) was associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis in overweight people, and no such association was found in other weight groups. Different amounts of adipose tissue and muscle mass may alter bone biology. Further longitudinal follow-up studies are required to more accurately assess the risk of osteoporosis and sarcopenia in different weight populations. This cross-sectional study found that the prevalence of osteoporosis was highest in the underweight group and gradually decreased with increasing BMI. Sarcopenia was associated with elevated odds of osteoporosis in normal-weight subjects independent of potential covariates.