Comparison of endoscopic breast-conserving surgery versus conventional breast-conserving surgery for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer: a meta-analysis.

Introduction: This meta-analysis seeks to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic breast-conserving surgery (E-BCS) compared to conventional breast cancer surgery (C-BCS) in patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Materials and methods: Four databases (Medline, Embase, Web of Science and CENTRAL) were searched published from establishment of database to January 30,2024, for articles studying E-BCS compared to C-BCS in patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Meta-analyses of procedure time, blood loss, length of incision, drainage duration, total postoperative drainage volume, average duration of hospital stay, positive rate of margin, complication rate, recurrence rate, metastasis rate and cosmetic scoring were performed. Results: Totally 11 studies were included for meta-analysis. Compared with C-BCS, E-BCS exhibited significantly reduced incision length (WMD = -6.44, 95%CI: -10.78 to -2.11, P=0.004, I2 = 99.0%) and superior cosmetic scoring (WMD = 2.69, 95%CI: 1.46 to 3.93, P=0.001, I2 = 93.2%), but had significantly longer operation time (WMD = 34.22, 95%CI: 20.89~47.55, P=0.000, I2 = 90.7%) and blood loss (WMD = 3.65, 95%CI: -3.12 to 10.43, P=0.291, I2 = 86.8%). There was no significant difference in terms of recurrence rate, metastasis rate, positive rate of tumor resection margins, drainage duration, drainage volume, complication rate and hospital days. Conclusions: Our research findings indicate that E-BCS is a viable and secure method for treating breast cancer in its early stages. E-BCS provides distinct advantages in terms of the length of the incision and the aesthetic result, without demonstrating an elevated recurrence rate or metastasis rate. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024535164, identifier CRD42024535164.

The postnatal injection of AAV9-FOXG1 rescues corpus callosum agenesis and other brain deficits in the mouse model of FOXG1 syndrome.

Heterozygous mutations in the FOXG1 gene manifest as FOXG1 syndrome, a severe neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by structural brain anomalies, including agenesis of the corpus callosum, hippocampal reduction, and myelination delays. Despite the well-defined genetic basis of FOXG1 syndrome, therapeutic interventions targeting the underlying cause of the disorder are nonexistent. In this study, we explore the therapeutic potential of adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)-mediated delivery of the FOXG1 gene. Remarkably, intracerebroventricular injection of AAV9-FOXG1 to Foxg1 heterozygous mouse model at the postnatal stage rescues a wide range of brain pathologies. This includes the amelioration of corpus callosum deficiencies, the restoration of dentate gyrus morphology in the hippocampus, the normalization of oligodendrocyte lineage cell numbers, and the rectification of myelination anomalies. Our findings highlight the efficacy of AAV9-based gene therapy as a viable treatment strategy for FOXG1 syndrome and potentially other neurodevelopmental disorders with similar brain malformations, asserting its therapeutic relevance in postnatal stages.

CoHIT: a one-pot ultrasensitive ERA-CRISPR system for detecting multiple same-site indels.

Genetic testing is crucial for precision cancer medicine. However, detecting multiple same-site insertions or deletions (indels) is challenging. Here, we introduce CoHIT (Cas12a-based One-for-all High-speed Isothermal Test), a one-pot CRISPR-based assay for indel detection. Leveraging an engineered AsCas12a protein variant with high mismatch tolerance and broad PAM scope, CoHIT can use a single crRNA to detect multiple NPM1 gene c.863_864 4-bp insertions in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). After optimizing multiple parameters, CoHIT achieves a detection limit of 0.01% and rapid results within 30 minutes, without wild-type cross-reactivity. It successfully identifies NPM1 mutations in 30 out of 108 AML patients and demonstrates potential in monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) through continuous sample analysis from three patients. The CoHIT method is also competent for detecting indels of KIT, BRAF, and EGFR genes. Integration with lateral flow test strips and microfluidic chips highlights CoHIT's adaptability and multiplexing capability, promising significant advancements in clinical cancer diagnostics.

Retraction Notice to: ALDH2 Glu504Lys Polymorphism and Susceptibility to Coronary Artery Disease and Myocardial Infarction in East Asians: A Meta-analysis.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editorial Board of the Archives of Medical Research after receiving a complaint reporting that the article was based on an unreliable or non-existent statistical method. After analyzing the complaint and carefully reviewing the article, the Editorial Board contacted the corresponding author following due process and received no response. The Editorial Board no longer has confidence in the article and therefore decided to retract the article. Apologies are offered to readers of the journal that this was not detected during the review process.

Trend in prevalence, associated risk factors, and longitudinal outcomes of sarcopenia in China: A national cohort study.

AIMS: To estimate the contemporary trend in the prevalence of sarcopenia and evaluate its risk factors and the longitudinal associations with multiple chronic conditions and mortality among Chinese middle-aged and older adults. METHODS: This was a nationwide, prospective cohort study using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. The definition of sarcopenia was based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 algorithm. In the cross-sectional analysis, we estimated the trend in the weighted prevalence of sarcopenia from 2011 to 2015 and examined the associated risk factors for sarcopenia severity in 2011. In the longitudinal analysis, we assessed the longitudinal associations between sarcopenia and 14 chronic conditions and mortality during a 9-year follow-up. RESULTS: The weighted prevalence of sarcopenia remained consistently high in the overall population from 2011 (15.9%, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 15.1, 16.6) to 2015 (15.0%, 95% CI: 14.3, 15.6; p for trend = 0.075). A range of risk factors were independently associated with the severity of sarcopenia, including older age, female sex, lower socioeconomic status, smoking status, malnutrition, and several chronic conditions. Possible sarcopenic and sarcopenic individuals had higher odds of several chronic conditions (i.e., heart disease, chronic lung disease, and memory-related disease) and increased risks of mortality (possible sarcopenia: odds ratios (OR): 1.66, 95% CI: 1.37, 2.00; sarcopenia: OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.36, 2.11) in 9 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of sarcopenia remained consistently high in the investigated population. Various risk factors were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of sarcopenia. Sarcopenic individuals had higher odds of several chronic conditions and increased risks of mortality, highlighting that the urgent need for dedicated efforts to improve the management of sarcopenic patients.

Association between septic shock and tracheal injury score in intensive care unit patients with invasive ventilation: a prospective single-centre cohort study in China.

OBJECTIVES: There was no evidence regarding the relationship between septic shock and tracheal injury scores. Investigate whether septic shock was independently associated with tracheal injury scores in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with invasive ventilation. DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study. SETTING: Our study was conducted in a Class III hospital in Hebei province, China. PARTICIPANTS: Patients over 18 years of age admitted to the ICU between 31 May 2020 and 3 May 2022 with a tracheal tube and expected to be on the tube for more than 24 hours. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Tracheal injuries were evaluated by examining hyperaemia, ischaemia, ulcers and tracheal perforation by fiberoptic bronchoscope. Depending on the number of lesions, the lesions were further classified as moderate, severe or confluent. RESULTS: Among the 97 selected participants, the average age was 56.6±16.5 years, with approximately 64.9% being men. The results of adjusted linear regression showed that septic shock was associated with tracheal injury scores (ß: 2.99; 95% CI 0.70 to 5.29). Subgroup analysis revealed a stronger association with a duration of intubation ≥8 days (p=0.013). CONCLUSION: Patients with septic shock exhibit significantly higher tracheal injury scores compared with those without septic shock, suggesting that septic shock may serve as an independent risk factor for tracheal injury. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2000037842, registered 03 September 2020. Retrospectively registered, https://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=57011&htm=4.

Systolic blood pressure status modifies the associations between the triglyceride-glucose index and incident cardiovascular disease: a national cohort study in China.

BACKGROUND: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and blood pressure (BP) are correlated and serve as risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The potential impact of BP status on the association between the TyG index and CVD risk remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate the relationships between the TyG index and incident CVD in Chinese middle-aged and elderly adults, considering variations in BP status among participants. METHODS: 6558 participants (mean age: 58.3 (± 8.7) years; 46.0% were men) without prevalent CVD were recruited from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Participants were divided into three groups according to their systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels (< 120mmHg, 120 ∼ 129mmHg, ≥ 130mmHg). The TyG index was computed as ln[triglyceride (mg/dl) * fasting blood glucose (mg/dl)/2]. The primary outcome was CVD (heart disease and stroke), and the secondary outcomes were individual CVD components. Cox regression models and restricted cubic splines were performed to investigate the associations between continuous and categorical TyG with CVD. RESULTS: 1599 cases of CVD were captured during 58,333 person-years of follow-up. Per 1-SD higher TyG index was associated with a 19% (HR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.27) higher risk for incident CVD, and the participants with the highest quartile of TyG index had a 54% (HR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.29, 1.84) higher risk of CVD compared to those in the lowest quartile. SBP significantly modifies the association between the TyG index and CVD, with higher HRs for CVD observed in those with optimal and normal SBP. SBP partially mediated the associations between the TyG index with CVD. The results were generally consistent among participants with varying pulse pressure statuses rather than diastolic BP statuses. CONCLUSIONS: The associations between the TyG index and CVD were modified by BP status, with greater HRs for CVD observed among those who had SBP < 130mmHg. SBP can partially mediate the association between the TyG index with CVD, highlighting the importance of early screening for the TyG index to identify at risk of hypertension and CVD.

Anionic oxyl radical formed on CrVI-oxo anchored on the defect site of the UiO-66 node facilitates methane to methanol conversion.

The direct conversion of methane to methanol has attracted increasing interest due to abundant and low-cost natural gas resources. Herein, by anchoring Cr-oxo/-oxyhydroxides on UiO-66 metal-organic frameworks, we demonstrate that reactive anionic oxyl radicals can be formed by controlling the coordination environment based on the results of density functional theory calculations. The anionic oxyl radicals produced at the completely oxidized CrVI site acted as the active species for facile methane activation. The thermodynamically stable CrVI-oxo/-oxyhydroxides with the anionic oxyl radicals catalyze the activation of the methane C-H bond through a homolytic mechanism. An analysis of the results showed that the catalytic performance of the active oxyl species correlates with the reaction energy of methane activation and H adsorption energies. Following methanol formation, N2O can regenerate the active sites on the most stable CrVI oxyhydroxides, i.e., the Cr(O)4Hf species. The present study demonstrated that the anionic oxyl radicals formed on the anchored CrVI oxyhydroxides by tuning the coordination environment enabled facile methane activation and facilitated methanol production.

Segregation of morphogenetic regulatory function of Shox2 from its cell fate guardian role in sinoatrial node development.

Shox2 plays a vital role in the morphogenesis and physiological function of the sinoatrial node (SAN), the primary cardiac pacemaker, manifested by the formation of a hypoplastic SAN and failed differentiation of pacemaker cells in Shox2 mutants. Shox2 and Nkx2-5 are co-expressed in the developing SAN and regulate the fate of the pacemaker cells through a Shox2-Nkx2-5 antagonistic mechanism. Here we show that simultaneous inactivation of Nkx2-5 in the SAN of Shox2 mutants (dKO) rescued the pacemaking cell fate but not the hypoplastic defects, indicating uncoupling of SAN cell fate determination and morphogenesis. Single-cell RNA-seq revealed that the presumptive SAN cells of Shox2-/- mutants failed to activate pacemaking program but remained in a progenitor state preceding working myocardium, while both wildtype and dKO SAN cells displayed normal pacemaking cell fate with similar cellular state. Shox2 thus acts as a safeguard but not a determinant to ensure the pacemaking cell fate through the Shox2-Nkx2-5 antagonistic mechanism, which is segregated from its morphogenetic regulatory function in SAN development.

Perceived Economic Burden, Mortality, and Health Status in Patients With Heart Failure.

Importance: In the face of an emerging heart failure (HF) epidemic, describing the association between perceived economic burden (PEB) and health care outcomes is an important step toward more equitable and achievable care. Objectives: To examine the association between PEB and risk of 1-year clinical outcomes and HF-specific health status in patients with acute decompensated HF. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective, multicenter, hospital-based cohort study prospectively enrolled adult patients hospitalized for acute decompensated HF at 52 hospitals in China from August 2016 to May 2018, with 1-year follow-up. Data were analyzed on June 17, 2022. Exposure: Perceived economic burden, categorized as severe (cannot undertake expenses), moderate (can almost undertake expenses), or little (can easily undertake expenses). Main Outcomes and Measures: The clinical outcomes of the study were 1-year all-cause death and rehospitalization for HF. Heart failure-specific health status was assessed by the 12-Item Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ-12). Results: Among 3386 patients, median age was 67 years (IQR, 58-75 years) and 2116 (62.5%) were men. Of these patients, 404 (11.9%) had severe PEB; 2021 (59.7%), moderate PEB; and 961 (28.4%), little PEB. Compared with patients with little PEB, those with severe PEB had increased risk of 1-year mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.61; 95% CI, 1.21-2.13; P < .001) but not 1-year HF rehospitalization (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.98-1.49; P = .07). The mean (SD) adjusted KCCQ-12 score was lowest in patients with severe PEB and highest in patients with little PEB at baseline (40.0 [1.7] and 50.2 [1.0] points, respectively; P < .001) and at each visit (eg, 12 months: 61.5 [1.6] and 75.5 [0.9] points respectively; P < .001). Patients reporting severe PEB had a clinically significant lower 1-year KCCQ-12 score compared with those reporting little PEB (mean difference, -11.3 points; 95% CI, -14.9 to -7.6 points; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of patients with acute decompensated HF, greater PEB was associated with higher risk of mortality and poorer health status but not with risk of HF rehospitalization. The findings suggest that PEB may serve as a convenient tool for risk estimation and as a potential target for quality-improvement interventions for patients with HF.

Long-term cost-effectiveness of transcatheter mitral valve repair in HF patients with secondary mitral regurgitation.

AIMS: The long-term cost-effectiveness of MitraClip in heart failure patients with secondary mitral regurgitation is still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of MitraClip added to guideline-directed medical therapy vs. guideline-directed medical therapy alone in heart failure patients with secondary mitral regurgitation from the perspective of the healthcare systems of mainland China, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States. METHODS AND RESULTS: A two-stage (decision + Markov) model was built. Health utilities were defined by the New York Heart Association class, heart failure re-hospitalization, and death and were calculated based on the 5 year follow-up results of the Cardiovascular Outcomes Assessment of the MitraClip Percutaneous Therapy for Heart Failure Patients With Functional Mitral Regurgitation trial. Direct healthcare costs were derived from the nationally representative data. Future utilities and costs were discounted at country-specific rates. The primary outcome was the lifetime incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. The mean age of the base case in our model was 72.2 years. Over a lifetime horizon, treatment with MitraClip was associated with 829 fewer heart failure re-hospitalizations per 1000 treated patients. The MitraClip treatment was associated with incremental quality-adjusted life-year gains of 0.71, 0.76, 0.78, and 0.78, as well as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of ¥468 462, £28 910, €26 045, and $71 199 per quality-adjusted life-year for a lifetime horizon in mainland China, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States, respectively. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis, 0.2%, 59.4%, 99.6%, and 84.7% of patients were cost-effective in mainland China, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States at the country-specific willingness-to-pay thresholds. CONCLUSIONS: MitraClip + guideline-directed medical therapy was cost-effective in heart failure patients with secondary mitral regurgitation in the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States, but not in mainland China from the perspective of the national healthcare system.

The association between TyG and all-cause/non-cardiovascular mortality in general patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is modified by age: results from the cohort study of NHANES 1999-2018.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index in general type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients is still unclear. Therefore, we aimed to determine the associations between TyG and all-cause/cause-specific death in a T2DM cohort and explore whether such associations would be modified by age. METHODS: A total of 3,376 patients with T2DM from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018 were selected and divided into the younger group (< 65 yrs) and the older group (≥ 65 yrs). Baseline TyG was calculated and cause-specific mortality status [cardiovascular (CV), cancer, and non-CV] was determined by the NHANES Public-Use Linked Mortality Files through 31 December 2019. Multivariate Cox and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression models were used to evaluate the association between TyG and all-cause/cause-specific mortality. Interaction between TyG and age to mortality was also evaluated. Sensitivity analyses were performed in patients without cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, or insulin treatment. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 107 months, 805 all-cause deaths occurred, of which 250 and 144 were attributed to CV and cancer deaths. There was a significant age interaction to the association between TyG and all-cause/non-CV mortality. After fully adjusting for potential confounding factors, higher TyG was associated with an increased risk of all-cause [TyG per unit increase Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.33, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.06-1.66, p = 0.014] and non-CV mortality (TyG per unit increase HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.18-2.01, p = 0.002) only in the younger group, but not in the older group. There was no significant association between TyG and CV/cancer death in the total cohort and two age subgroups. Similar results were found in RCS and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION: In a national sample of patients with T2DM in the United States, we found that the association between TyG and all-cause/non-CV death was modified by age. Higher TyG was only associated with an increased risk of all-cause/non-CV only in T2DM patients younger than 65 years old, but not in older patients.

NF-κB RelA is a cell-intrinsic metabolic checkpoint restricting glycolysis.

An intrinsic link between metabolism and function in immune cells, and in particular macrophages, has been well established recently. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling the metabolic switch in these sentinel cells for their integral roles in host defense, inflammation, homeostasis, and pathogenesis remain largely unknown. Here, we identify the master transcription factor NF-κB RelA as a vital cell-intrinsic checkpoint restricting aerobic glycolysis to favor mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and "M2" activation (alternative anti-inflammatory and pro-tumorigenic activation, in contrast to classical pro-inflammatory and anti-tumor M1 activation) of macrophages under oncogenic stress. RelA specific knockdown or genetic deletion in macrophages causes metabolism to shift away from OXPHOS toward glycolysis, resulting in drastically decreased oxygen consumption but significantly increased lactate and ATP production. The metabolic change in RelA deficient cells is associated with the decrease in the expressions of the OXPHOS gene SCO2 as well as the M2 marker and function genes arginase-1 and VEGF. These data suggest that RelA induces SCO2 expression to enhance OXPHOS and restrict glycolysis in macrophages for their pro-tumorigenic activation.

Association of depression trajectories and subsequent hypertension and cardiovascular disease: findings from the CHARLS cohort.

OBJECTIVES: Little evidence regarding the associations of longitudinal trajectories of depressive symptoms and incident hypertension and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between trajectories of depressive symptoms and new-onset hypertension and CVDs among the Chinese middle-aged and older general population. METHODS: This prospective cohort study used data from a nationally representative sample aged older than 45 years of Chinese residents recruited for the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The depressive symptoms were assessed using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10). The outcomes of the study were new-onset hypertension and CVDs. RESULTS: A total of 6071 participants were included in the final analysis and four trajectories of CES-D-10 were identified, including low-stable, medium-decreasing, medium-increasing, and high-stable trajectories. Until 2018, 1668 (27.5%) and 959 (15.8%) participants were newly diagnosed with hypertension and CVDs, respectively. Compared with participants with a low-stable trajectory, individuals with other three trajectories had a significantly higher risk of hypertension and CVDs. The results remained robust in several sensitivity analyses. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) showed an S-shaped relationship between the mean CES-D-10 score and hypertension/CVDs ( P for nonlinear <0.001). Hypertension partially mediated the association between CES-D-10 and CVDs. CONCLUSION: Among Chinese aged older than 45 years' general adults, depressive symptoms were prevalent and associated with higher risks of incident hypertension and CVDs. Depressive symptoms mediated the development of CVDs by promoting hypertension progression. Immediate efforts are needed to improve depression management in China to further prevent CVDs.

The clinicopathological features, treatment outcomes and follow-up results of 47 ectopic thyroid gland cases: a single-center retrospective study.

Background: Ectopic thyroid gland (ETG) is an uncommon clinical condition, presenting various challenges and limitations in its regulate diagnosis and treatment currently. This study aims to enhance our understanding of ETG and improve the strategies for its diagnosis and treatment. Methods: The retrospective single-center study was conducted, encompassing clinical data from ETG patients screened at our institution between 2013 and 2022. Patients were categorized based on the location of the disease, and follow-ups were performed on each. Results: This study included a total of 47 patients who were confirmed to hav confirmed to have ETG. Among them, we found 29 cases of accessory thyroid and 18 cases of aberrant thyroid. Furthermore, 42 cases exhibited the single ETG, while 5 cases displayed the double ETG. The distribution of the ETG was as follows: 20 were lingual, 10 were submandibular, 10 were lateral cervical, 4 were thoracic mediastinal, 1 was esophageal, and 7 were ovarian. Of these cases, 22 patients underwent surgery, 18 received thyroid hormone replacement therapy, and 7 were placed under observation. All patients were followed up for 59.4 (12-117) months. No significant abnormalities were detected at the conclusion of the follow-up period. Conclusion: ETG is frequently observed in the head and neck, particularly in lingual. Accessory thyroid glands are commonly reported, with most cases being single ETG. Notably, these glands usually do not manifest specific clinical symptoms. Therefore, the appropriate and comprehensive examinations during the initial diagnosis are crucial to avoid misdiagnosis. Treatment should be individualized, and long-term follow-up is essential for managing ETG effectively.

Distinctive Heterogeneous Reaction Mechanism of ClNO2 on the Air-Water Surface Containing Cl.

The heterogeneous reaction of nitryl chloride (ClNO2) on the air-water surface plays a significant role in the chloride lifecycle. The air-water surface is ubiquitous on ice surfaces under supercooled conditions, affecting the uptake and heterogeneous reaction processes of trace gases. Previous studies suggest that ClNO2 is formed on Cl-doped ice surfaces following the N2O5 uptake. Herein, a distinctive heterogeneous reaction mechanism of ClNO2 is suggested on an air-water surface containing Cl under supercooled conditions using combined classic molecular dynamics (MD) and Born-Oppenheimer MD simulations. It is found that N2O5 dissociates into a NO2+ and NO3- ionic pair on the top air-water surface. In the top layer of the surface containing barely any Cl-, NO2+ proceeds through hydrolysis and produces H3O+ and HNO3. Thus, surface acidification appears because of H3O+ yields. With NO2+ diffusion to the deep layer of the surface, NO2+ reacts with Cl- and forms ClNO2. Note that ClNO2 formation competes with NO2+ hydrolysis, and the rate of ClNO2 formation is 27.7[Cl-] larger than that of NO2+ hydrolysis. Afterward, the reaction of ClNO2 with Cl- becomes barrierless with the catalysis by H3O+, which is not feasible on a neutral surface. Cl2 is thus generated and escapes into the atmosphere (low solubility of Cl2), contributing to the Cl radical. The proposed mechanism bolsters the current understanding of ClNO2's fate and its role in Cl chemistry in extremely cold environments like the Arctic and other high-latitude regions in wintertime.

Development and validation of a simple model to predict functionally significant coronary artery disease in Chinese populations: A two-center retrospective study.

Objectives: This study sought to derive and validate a simple model combining traditional clinical risk factors with biomarkers and imaging indicators easily obtained from routine preoperative examinations to predict functionally significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in Chinese populations. Methods: We developed five models from a derivation cohort of 320 patients retrospective collected. In the derivation cohort, we assessed each model discrimination using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), reclassification using the integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and net reclassification improvement (NRI), calibration using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, and clinical benefit using decision curve analysis (DCA) to derive the optimal model. The optimal model was internally validated by bootstrapping, and external validation was performed in another cohort including 96 patients. Results: The optimal model including 5 predictors (age, sex, hyperlipidemia, hs-cTnI and LVEF) achieved an AUC of 0.807 with positive NRI and IDI in the derivation cohort. Moreover, the Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed a good fit, and the DCA demonstrated good clinical net benefit. The C-statistic calculated by bootstrapping internal validation was 0.798, and the calibration curve showed adequate calibration (Brier score = 0.179). In the external validation cohort, the optimal model performance was acceptable (AUC = 0.704; Brier score = 0.20). Finally, a nomogram based on this model was constructed to facilitate its use in clinical practice. Conclusions: A simple model combined clinical risk factors with hs-cTnI and LVEF improving the prediction of functionally significant CAD in Chinese populations. This attractive model may be a choice for clinicians to risk stratification for CAD.

Resolving Temperature-Dependent Hydrate Nucleation Pathway: The Role of "Transition Layer".

Understanding the nucleation of natural gas hydrate (NGH) at different conditions has important implications to NGH recovery and other industrial applications, such as gas storage and separation. Herein, vast numbers of hydrate nucleation events are traced via molecular dynamics (MD) simulations at different degrees of supercooling (or driving forces). Specifically, to precisely characterize a hydrate nucleus from an aqueous system during the MD simulation, we develop an evolutionary order parameter (OP) to recognize the nucleus size and shape. Subsequently, the free energy landscapes of hydrate during nucleation are explored by using the newly developed OP. The results suggest that at 270 K (or 0.92 Tm supercooling, where Tm is the melting point), the near-rounded nucleus prevails during the nucleation, as described from the classical nucleation theory. In contrast, at relatively strong driving forces of 0.85 and 0.88 Tm, nonclassical nucleation events arise. Specifically, the pathway toward an elongated nucleus becomes as important as the pathway toward a near-rounded nucleus. To explain the distinct nucleation phenomena at different supercoolings, a notion of a "transition layer" (or liquid-blob-like layer) is proposed. Here, the transition layer is to describe the interfacial region between the nucleus and aqueous solution, and this layer entails two functionalities: (1) it tends to retain CH4 depending on the degrees of supercooling and (2) it facilitates collision among CH4, which thus promote the incorporation of CH4 into nucleus. Our simulation indicates that compared to the near-rounded nucleus, the transition layer surrounding the elongated nucleus is more evident with the higher collision rate among CH4 molecules. As such, the transition layer tends to promote the elongated nucleus pathway, while offsetting the cost of larger surface free energy associated with the elongated nucleus. At 0.92 Tm, however, the transition layer gradually disappears, and classical nucleation events dominate. Overall, the notion of "transition layer" offers deeper insight into the NGH nucleation at different degrees of supercooling and could be extended to describe other types of hydrate nucleation.

The Impact of Time Interval on Prognosis in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Brain Metastases After Metastases Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a prominent malignancy often linked to the development of brain metastases (BM), which commonly appear at diverse time intervals (TI) following the lung cancer diagnosis. This study endeavors to determine the prognostic significance of the time interval in patients with NSCLC who undergo BM surgery. Through this investigation, we aim to improve our understanding of the factors impacting the prognosis of BM cases originating from NSCLC. METHODS: We analyzed data from 74 patients (2011-2021) who underwent BM surgery at our institution. The relationship between various clinical, radiological, and histopathological factors, as well as TI and overall survival (OS), was examined. RESULTS: The median TI from initial NSCLC diagnosis to BM surgery was 19 months (range: 9-36 months). Notably, a shorter TI of less than 23 months was found to be independently associated with postoperative survival (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-8.02, P = 0.045). Additionally, a shorter TI was independently correlated with the absence of adjuvant chemotherapy for NSCLC (aOR 0.25, 95% CI 0.07-0.83, P = 0.023) and lack of targeted therapy (aOR 0.02, 95% CI 0.00-0.16, P < 0.001). Late-onset BM (TI ≥ 36 months) was observed in 15 cases (20.3%), in this subgroup, patients aged 60 years or older at the time of lung cancer diagnosis exhibited a significant independent correlation with late-onset BM (aOR 7.24, 95% CI 1.59-32.95, P = 0.011). NSCLC patients who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy displayed a notable correlation with late-onset BM (aOR 6.46, 95% CI 1.52-27.43, P = 0.011), while those who received targeted therapy also exhibited an independent association (aOR 2.27, 95% CI 1.70-3.03, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple factors contribute to the variability in the onset interval of BM subsequent to NSCLC diagnosis. The occurrence of BM within TI < 23 months following the initial diagnosis of NSCLC was demonstrated as an independent factor associated with an unfavorable prognosis following BM surgery. Furthermore, patients with NSCLC who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy and lacked targeted therapy were shown to have an elevated likelihood of developing BM after a long progression-free survival.