An Atmospheric Water-Harvester with Ultrahigh Uptake-Release Efficiency at Low Humidity.

Atmospheric water harvesting is a practical strategy that is achieved by removing materials from air moisture to relieve global water scarcity. Here we design a water-harvester (i.e., MOF-303/thiolated polymer composite (MTC)) by using a metal-organic framework (MOF-303) and thiolated chitosan (TC) skeleton. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding between TC and MOF-303 facilitates porous structures with enlarged air-polymer interfaces for long cycling life and high capacity at low relative humidity. Benefiting from synergetic effects on porosity and anchorage for accelerating the uptake-release of moisture, MTC exhibits a rapid water uptake capacity of 0.135 g/g in 60 min under 12.5 RH% and ultrafast water desorption kinetics of 0.003 g/g/min at 8.5 RH%, which is superior to the as-reported MOF-303 based adsorbents. At low heat (∼40 °C), the water desorption and collection rate, respectively, are 0.0195 and 0.0168 g/g/min within 210 min, showing ultrahigh harvesting efficiency. These results highlight the enormous potential as promising materials for solving the world's water scarcity crisis. This study offers an insight into the design of AWH materials, which can be extended into applications in some realms, e.g., freshwater development for industry in arid areas, water engineering-related devices and systems, etc.

Gradient-Janus Wires for Simultaneous Fogwater Harvesting and Electricity Generation.

A Gradient-Janus wire (GJW) with a diameter of 0.3 mm has been fabricated on a large scale through liquid confined modification, enabling the opposite conical wetting phenomenon along the same orientation of the GJW, characterized by an increasing superhydrophilic region and a decreasing hydrophobic region. This property allows the GJW to exhibit controllable water hovering, transport, and pinning during fog harvesting, i.e., at a large tilting angle α of 60° (mass increased with decreased α), the GJW can hover 0.6 mg of harvested fogwater in 30 s, can transport 3 mg of fogwater along the gradient in 30 s at α = 4° (with maximal mass reaching up to 4.3 mg at α = -10°), and finally, pin the water droplet at the end of the GJW. Such ability generates an effective torque that serves as the driving force for rotation. We designed a GJWs-wheel by radially arranging 60 GJWs together, resulting in an extremely lightweight structure weighing only 1.9 g. The cumulative torque generated during fog harvesting activates the rotation of the GJWs-wheel. When loaded with a coil within a magnetic field, electricity is generated as output power peaks at around 0.25 µW while maintaining a high water harvesting efficiency averaging approximately 38 ± 2.12 mg/min. This finding is significant as it provides valuable insights into designing materials capable of efficiently harnessing both energy and water resources.

Prediction of prognosis in patients with ischemic stroke combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus based on serum total bilirubin levels.

Serum bilirubin levels may have therapeutic benefits in oxidative stress-related diseases, but their role in stroke remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum bilirubin levels on admission and clinical outcomes in ischemic stroke patients. We prospectively collected data from consecutive ischemic stroke admissions. Serum total bilirubin (TBIL) and direct bilirubin levels on admission were measured. Stroke severity at admission was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and functional status at discharge was evaluated using the modified Rankin scale. Among 180 patients, lower TBIL levels were observed in all 3 groups, with the mild group (7.89 ±â€…2.12 µmol/L) having lower levels than the moderate group (8.01 ±â€…2.12 µmol/L) and the severe group (9.12 ±â€…2.12 µmol/L). Although TBIL levels were initially associated with stroke severity, this relationship did not hold after adjusting for confounding factors. Serum bilirubin levels appear to be related to stroke severity but not independently associated with outcomes in ischemic stroke patients. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. There is a strong correlation between serum bilirubin levels and the severity and prognosis of ischemic stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, early control of serum TBIL and direct bilirubin is crucial for the treatment and prognosis of ischemic stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Correlation analysis between plasma biomarkers albumin, fibrinogen, and their ratio with postoperative delirium in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the correlation between plasma biomarkers, such as albumin and fibrinogen, and their ratio with postoperative delirium (POD) in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. METHODS: Relevant observational cohort studies were systematically searched in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library databases as of March 2023. This meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4.1 and Stata 15.0 software. For continuous variables with non-uniform units, the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used; otherwise, the mean difference (MD) and 95% CIs were employed. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was applied to assess the quality of included literature. RESULTS: Eighteen studies encompassing 7,011 patients were included. The meta-analysis revealed significantly lower albumin levels (sixteen studies, 5,813 patients, SMD = -0.45, 95% CI = -0.64 to -0.26, P < 0.00001, I2 = 80%) and albumin-fibrinogen ratio (AFR) (four studies, 824 patients, MD = -0.62, 95% CI = -0.76 to -0.48, P = 0.56, I2 = 0%) in the delirious group. Conversely, higher fibrinogen concentrations (two studies, 441 patients, MD = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.02 to 0.24, P = 0.69, I2 = 0%) were observed in the delirious group. Due to high heterogeneity in albumin levels (P < 0.00001, I2 = 80%), we conducted a subgroup and sensitivity analysis, and confirmed that the association of albumin levels was not influenced by surgery type, design or delirium evaluation instruments. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative albumin, fibrinogen and AFR levels were associated with POD, potentially aiding in identifying high-risk patients and playing a key role in preventing POD.

The relationship between a series of inflammatory markers on the risk of heart failure in different gender groups: Analysis from NHANES 2015-2018.

BACKGROUND: A better understanding of the level-grade inflammation for the development and worsening of heart failure (HF) in different gender groups is an unmet need. We performed an updated analysis on the impact of a series of systemic inflammation markers on HF. METHODS: This compensatory cross-sectional study enrolled participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2018. HF was based on the self-reported questions. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to investigate the association between systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and HF. For patients of different genders, P for trend was used to analyze potential linear trend relationships and the restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to describe non-linear relationships. The additive interaction was evaluated by the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion (AP), and the synergy index (SI). The multiplicative interaction was evaluated by odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of product-term. RESULTS: A total of 5,830 participants from the NHANES database were divided into two groups: the HF group (n = 210) and the non-HF group (n = 5620). After gender stratification, hs-CRP (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.03), SII (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 1.00-1.01), NLR (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.11-1.35) and LMR (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.65-0.93) were independent meaningful factors for HF in males, there was no non-linear relationship between the three factors (SII, NLR, hs-CRP, all P for non-linear > 0.05) and the prevalence of HF, but we detected a non-linear relationship between LMR and the prevalence of HF in males (P for non-linear < 0.05). An additive interaction of hs-CRP and NLR on the risk of HF in males (RERI (OR): 0.67, 95% CI: 0.12-1.34; AP (OR): 0.14, 95% CI: 0.02-0.24; SI (OR): 1.22, 95% CI: 1.03-1.44). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, hs-CRP, NLR, and LMR are superior meaningful markers for HF in males. SII may be a meaningful systemic inflammation warning marker for HF, which needs to be discriminated against with caution. Only detected a non-linear relationship between LMR and the prevalence of HF in males. NLR and hs-CRP may have an additive interaction in the prevalence of male HF patients. The outcome compensated for previous studies that still needed more studies for validation.

Thoracic delirium index for predicting postoperative delirium in elderly patients following thoracic surgery: A retrospective case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative delirium (POD) is an acute neurological complication in the elderly undergoing thoracic surgery and can result in serious adverse consequences. AIMS: This study aimed to identify the related risk factors for POD following thoracic surgery, primarily focusing on preoperative serum biomarkers, and further to establish a novel delirium index to better predict POD. METHODS: A total of 279 patients aged ≥60 years who underwent elective thoracic surgery from August 2021 to August 2022 were enrolled in this observational study. The platelet-to-white blood cell ratio (PWR) was calculated as number the of platelets divided by the number of white blood cells. POD was defined by the confusion assessment method twice daily during the postoperative first 3 days. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify all potential variables for POD. Moreover, a novel thoracic delirium index (TDI) was developed based on the related risk factors. The accuracy of TDI and its component factors in predicting POD was determined by the curve of receiver operating characteristic (ROC). RESULTS: In total, 25 of 279 patients developed POD (8.96%). Age, PWR, and average pain scores within the first 3 days after surgery were regarded as the independent risk factors for POD. Moreover, the ROC analysis showed the TDI, including age, PWR, and average pain scores within the first 3 days after surgery, can more accurately predict POD with the largest area under the curve of 0.790 and the optimal cutoff value of 9.072, respectively. CONCLUSION: The TDI can scientifically and effectively predict POD to provide optimal clinical guidance for older patients after thoracic surgery.

Analgesic efficacy of local infiltration anaesthesia versus femoral nerve block in alleviating postoperative wound pain following total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) often involves significant postoperative pain, necessitating effective analgesia. This meta-analysis compares the analgesic efficacy of local infiltration anaesthesia (LIA) and femoral nerve block (FNB) in managing postoperative wound pain following TKA. Adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, this meta-analysis was structured around the PICO framework, assessing studies that directly compared LIA and FNB in TKA patients. A comprehensive search across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library was conducted without time restrictions. Studies were included based on specific criteria such as participant demographics, study design and outcomes like pain scores and opioid consumption. Quality assessment utilized the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool. The statistical approach was determined based on heterogeneity, with the choice of fixed- or random-effects models guided by the I2 statistic. Sensitivity analysis and evaluation of publication bias using funnel plots and Egger's linear regression test were also conducted. From an initial pool of 1275 articles, eight studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies conducted in various countries from 2007 to 2016. The meta-analysis showed no significant difference in resting and movement-related Visual Analogue Scale scores post-TKA between the LIA and FNB groups. However, LIA was associated with significantly lower opioid consumption. The quality assessment revealed a low risk of bias in most studies, and the sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of these findings. There was no significant publication bias detected. Both LIA and FNB are effective in controlling postoperative pain in TKA patients, but LIA offers the advantage of lower opioid consumption. Its simplicity, cost-effectiveness and opioid-sparing nature make LIA the recommended choice for postoperative analgesia in knee replacement surgeries.

Three Artemisia pollens trigger the onset of allergic rhinitis via TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis is high, making it a relatively common chronic condition. Countless patients suffer from seasonal Allergic rhinitis (AR). The objective of this investigation is to examine the potential involvement of common pollen allergens in seasonal allergic rhinitis, and study the proposed mechanism of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/Myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) signaling pathway in the induction of AR. METHOD: A mouse AR model (sensitized group) was constructed with pollen extracts and ovalbumin (OVA) of Artemisia annua (An), Artemisia argyi (Ar) and Artemisia Sieversiana (Si), and thereafter, AR symptom score was performed. After successful modeling, mouse serum and nasal mucosa tissues were extracted for subsequent experiments. The expression levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) in serum were detected using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining methods were used to observe the pathological changes of the nasal mucosal tissue; Utilizing immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining, the expression levels of TLR4, MyD88 and Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 in mouse nasal mucosa were quantified; The mRNA and protein expression levels of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB p65 in nasal mucosa of sensitized mice were detected with Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western Blot. Finally, the in vitro culture of Human nasal mucosal epithelial cells (HNEpC) cells was conducted, and cells were treated with 200 µg/ml Artemisia annua pollen extract and OVA for 24 h. Western Blot assay was used to detect the expression level of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB p65 proteins before and after HNEpC cells were treated with MyD88 inhibitor ST-2825. RESULT: On the second day after AR stimulation, the mice showed obvious AR symptoms. H&E results showed that compared to the control group, the nasal mucosal tissue in the sensitized group was significantly more inflamed. Furthermore, ELISA assay showed increased expression levels of IgE, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and TNF-α in serum of mice induced by OVA and Artemisia annua pollen, Artemisia argyi pollen and Artemisia Sieversiana pollen than those of the control group. However, the expression level of IL-2 was lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Using Immunohistochemistry staining visually observed the expression levels of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB p65 in mouse nasal mucosa tissues and quantitatively analyzed. The expression levels of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB p65 in the sensitized group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The results from qRT-PCR and Western Blot showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB p65 in nasal mucosa of the sensitized group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Finally, HNEpC cells were cultured in vitro and analyzed using Western Blot. The expression levels of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB p65 in OVA and An groups were significantly increased (P < 0.05). After ST-2825 treatment, TLR4 protein expression was significantly increased (P < 0.05) and MyD88 and NF-κB p65 protein expression were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: To sum up, the occurrence and development of AR induced by OVA and pollen of Artemisia annua, Artemisia argyi and Artemisia Sieversiana were related to TLR4/MyD88 signal pathway.

The effect of haloperidol's perioperative application on postoperative delirium in elderly patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To systematically review the evidence about the effect of haloperidol on postoperative delirium in elderly patients. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were used to find concerned studies for meta-analysis. The main outcome was the incidence of postoperative delirium, and the secondary outcomes were side effects of haloperidol and the length of hospital stay. The meta-analyses were conducted using the Review Manager Version 5.1. This study was conducted based on the PRISMA statement. RESULTS: Eight RCTs (1569 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. There was a significant difference in the incidence of postoperative delirium between haloperidol and control groups (OR = 0.62, 95%CI 0.48-0.80, P = 0.0002, I2 = 20%). In addition, side effects of haloperidol and the duration of hospitalization were comparable (OR = 0.58, 95%CI 0.25-1.35, P = 0.21, I2 = 0%; MD =-0.01, 95%CI -0.16-0.15, P = 0.92, I2 = 28%). Subgroup analysis implied the effect of haloperidol on postoperative delirium might vary with the dose (5 mg daily: OR = 0.40, 95%CI 0.22-0.71, P = 0.002, I2 = 0%; <5 mg daily: OR = 0.72, 95%CI 0.42-1.23, P = 0.23, I2 = 0%). CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis revealed perioperative application of haloperidol could decrease the occurrence of postoperative delirium without obvious side effects in elderly people, and high-dose haloperidol (5 mg daily) possessed a greater positive effect.

Evaluating the impact of ultrasound-guided subsheath versus extrasheath sciatic nerve block on postoperative wound pain in tibial and foot surgeries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the impact of ultrasound-guided subsheath versus extrasheath sciatic nerve blocks on postoperative wound pain in tibial and foot surgeries, crucial for effective pain management and patient recovery. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, this study used a PICO framework, focusing on patients undergoing tibial and foot surgeries and comparing the efficacy and safety of subsheath and extrasheath sciatic nerve blocks. The literature search spanned four databases without time restrictions, assessing various outcomes like success rate, onset time, duration of analgesia and complication rates. Quality assessment employed the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool, and statistical analyses included heterogeneity assessment, fixed-effect and random-effects models, sensitivity analysis and publication bias evaluation using funnel plots and Egger's linear regression test. From an initial pool of 1213 articles, six met the inclusion criteria. The subsheath group showed a significantly higher success rate of complete sensory blockade within 30 min compared with the extrasheath group (OR = 5.39; 95% CI: 2.82-10.28; p < 0.01). No significant differences were found in procedure duration or incidence of nerve-related complications between the two techniques. The subsheath approach also demonstrated a quicker onset time of sensory blockade (MD = -8.57; 95% CI: -11.27 to -5.88; p < 0.01). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of the results, and no significant publication bias was detected. Ultrasound-guided subsheath sciatic nerve blocks are more effective than extrasheath blocks in achieving rapid and complete sensory blockade for tibial and foot surgeries, with a quicker onset time and comparable safety profile. Subsheath injections are thus recommended as a preferred method for anaesthesia and postoperative pain management in these surgical procedures, enhancing overall patient outcomes.

Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation improves pulmonary function by regulating oxidative stress during one-lung ventilation in patients with lung cancer undergoing thoracoscopic surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on oxidative stress induced by one-lung ventilation, lung function, and postoperative quality of recovery in patients with lung cancer. METHODS: The participants (n = 80) were assigned to the sham group and TEAS group. TEAS on bilateral Feishu (BL13), Zusanli (ST36), and Hegu (L14) was performed 30 minutes before induction of anesthesia and continued until the end of the surgery. In the sham group, the same acupoints were selected without electrical stimulation. PaO2/FiO2, intrapulmonary shunt ratio (Qs/Qt), alveolar-arterial oxygen tension (A-aDO2), and respiratory index (RI) were calculated to evaluate lung function before one-lung ventilation (T0), 30 min after one-lung ventilation (T1), 1 h after one-lung ventilation (T2), and 10 min after resuming two-lung ventilation (T3). The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected to estimate oxidative stress at T0, T1, T2, and T3. Secondary outcomes included removal time of thoracic drainage tube, duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, length of postoperative hospitalization, the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications, and the Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) score on postoperative day 1 and 2. RESULTS: TEAS significantly increased PaO2/FiO2 at T1 and T2, while Qs/Qt, A-aDO2, and RI decreased remarkably from T1 to T3 (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, TEAS obviously decreased MDA and increased SOD activity at T2 and T3 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, TEAS also markedly shortened the length of ICU stay and hospital stay after surgery, whereas the QoR-15 score on postoperative day 1 and 2 was significantly higher (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TEAS could reduce oxidative lung injury during one-lung ventilation, thereby protecting pulmonary function and effectively accelerating the early recovery of patients with lung cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000038243).

Incidence and risk factors for postoperative delirium after head and neck cancer surgery: an updated meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a frequent neurologic dysfunction that often leads to more negative outcomes. Early identification of patients who are vulnerable to POD and early implementation of appropriate management strategies could decrease its occurrence and improve patient prognosis. Therefore, this meta-analysis comprehensively and quantitatively summarized the prevalence and related predictive factors of POD in head and neck cancer surgical patients. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for observational studies that reported the prevalence and risk factors for POD after head and neck cancer surgery and were published from their inception until December 31, 2022. Two reviewers independently selected qualified articles and extracted data. The qualities of related papers were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS). RevMan 5.3 and Stata 15.0 were applied to analysis the data and conduct the meta-analysis. RESULTS: Sixteen observational studies with 3289 inpatients who underwent head and neck cancer surgery were included in this review. The occurrence of POD ranged from 4.2 to 36.9%, with a pooled incidence of 20% (95% CI 15-24%, I2 = 93.2%). The results of this pooled analysis demonstrated that the statistically significant risk factors for POD were increased age (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.03-1.07, P < 0.001), age > 75 years (OR: 6.52, 95% CI: 3.07-13.87, P < 0.001), male sex (OR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.06-4.97, P = 0.04), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists grade (OR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.44-3.33, P < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (OR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.24-6.01, P = 0.01), and history of smoking (OR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.13-6.65, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: POD frequently occurs after head and neck cancer surgery. Several independent predictors for POD were identified, which might contribute to identifying patients at high risk for POD and play a prominent role in preventing POD in patients following head and neck cancer surgery.

[Retracted] Expression and function of PIM kinases in osteosarcoma.

Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that (in addition to overlapping data panels internally within the figure, suggesting that some of the data had been derived from the same original sources where the results of differently performed experiments were intended to have been portrayed) certain of the data featured in Fig. 5A on p. 2123 had already been published in another article written by different authors at different research institutes [Tian F, Ding D and Li D: Fangchinoline targets PI3K and suppresses PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in SGC7901 cells. Int J Oncol 46: 2355­2363, 2015]. Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the above article had already been published prior to its submission to International Journal of Oncology, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [International Journal of Oncology 49: 2116­2126, 2016; DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2016.3708].

Effect of dexmedetomidine on postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients under general anaesthesia: an updated meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effect of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in adult patients after general anaesthesia. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of DEX with placebo or a single drug on PONV in adult patients after general anaesthesia. DATA SOURCES: We searched the PubMed, the Web of Science, the Cochrane Library and Embase (1 January 2000 to 30 June 2022) to select the relevant RCTs. DATA ANALYSIS: All the relevant data were analysed by using RevMan V.5.4. Heterogeneity was tested for each outcome, and random-effect or fixed-effect models was selected according to the level of heterogeneity. The primary outcome was the incidence of PONV. The secondary outcomes were the incidence of bradycardia, perioperative opioid consumption, extubation time and the length of hospitalisation. RESULTS: A total of 18 trials involving 2018 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Notably, 15 updated studies were not involved in the previous meta-analysis. The incidence of PONV in DEX group was lower than that in the control group (OR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.36 to 0.67) and the perioperative opioid consumption in DEX group was also decreased significantly (standard mean difference (SMD)=-1.04, 95% CI: -1.53 to -0.54). Moreover, the length of hospitalisation (SMD=-2.29, 95% CI: -4.31 to -0.28) and the extubation time (SMD=-0.75, 95% CI: -1.26 to -0.25) in DEX group were shorter. Whereas, more number of patients receiving DEX might increase the occurrence of bradycardia (OR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.13 to 2.27). CONCLUSIONS: DEX could decrease the occurrence of PONV in adult patients under general anaesthesia and promote the recovery after surgery. However, DEX might increase the occurrence of bradycardia. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD 42022341548.

Clinical evidence of three traditional Chinese medicine drugs and three herbal formulas for COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread worldwide. Integrated Chinese and Western medicine have had some successes in treating COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of three traditional Chinese medicine drugs and three herbal formulas (3-drugs-3-formulas) in patients with COVID-19. SEARCH STRATEGY: Relevant studies were identified from 12 electronic databases searched from their establishment to April 7, 2022. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs and cohort studies that evaluated the effects of 3-drugs-3-formulas for COVID-19. The treatment group was treated with one of the 3-drugs-3-formulas plus conventional treatment. The control group was treated with conventional treatment. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS: Two evaluators screened and selected literature independently, then extracted basic information and assessed risk of bias. The treatment outcome measures were duration of main symptoms, hospitalization time, aggravation rate and mortality. RevMan 5.4 was used to analyze the pooled results reported as mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for continuous data and risk ratio (RR) with 95% CI for dichotomous data. RESULTS: Forty-one studies with a total of 13,260 participants were identified. Our analysis suggests that compared with conventional treatment, the combination of 3-drugs-3-formulas might shorten duration of fever (MD = -1.39; 95% CI: -2.19 to -0.59; P < 0.05), cough (MD = -1.57; 95% CI: -2.16 to -0.98; P < 0.05) and fatigue (MD = -1.36; 95% CI: -2.21 to -0.51; P < 0.05), decrease length of hospital stay (MD = -2.62; 95% CI -3.52 to -1.72; P < 0.05), the time for nucleic acid conversion (MD = -2.92; 95% CI: -4.26 to -1.59; P < 0.05), aggravation rate (RR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.38 to 0.64; P < 0.05) and mortality (RR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.62; P < 0.05), and increase the recovery rate of chest computerized tomography manifestations (RR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.3; P < 0.05) and total effectiveness (RR = 1.24; 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.42; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The 3-drugs-3-formulas can play an active role in treating all stages of COVID-19. No severe adverse events related to 3-drugs-3-formulas were observed. Hence, 3-drugs-3-formulas combined with conventional therapies have effective therapeutic value for COVID-19 patients. Further long-term high-quality studies are essential to demonstrate the clinical benefits of each formula. Please cite this article as: You LZ, Dai QQ, Zhong XY, Yu DD, Cui HR, Kong YF, Zhao MZ, Zhang XY, Xu QQ, Guan ZY, Wei XX, Zhang XC, Han SJ, Liu WJ, Chen Z, Zhang XY, Zhao C, Jin YH, Shang HC. Clinical evidence of three traditional Chinese medicine drugs and three herbal formulas for COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the Chinese population. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(5): 441-454.

Effects of intra-aortic balloon pump on in-hospital outcomes and 1-year mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock.

BACKGROUND: The role of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) in cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is still a subject of intense debate. In this study, we aim to investigate the effect of IABP on the clinical outcomes of patients with AMI complicated by cardiogenic shock undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: From the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV 2.2, 6017 AMI patients were subtracted, and 250 patients with AMI complicated by cardiogenic shock undergoing PCI were analyzed. In-hospital outcomes (death, 24-hour urine volumes, length of ICU stays, and length of hospital stays) and 1-year mortality were compared between IABP and control during the hospital course and 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: An IABP was implanted in 30.8% (77/250) of patients with infarct-related cardiogenic shock undergoing PCI. IABP patients had higher levels of Troponin T (3.94 [0.73-11.85] ng/ml vs. 1.99 [0.55-5.75] ng/ml, p-value = 0.02). IABP patients have a longer length of ICU and hospital stays (124 [63-212] hours vs. 83 [43-163] hours, p-value = 0.005; 250 [128-435] hours vs. 170 [86-294] hours, p-value = 0.009). IABP use was not associated with lower in-hospital mortality (33.8% vs. 33.0%, p-value = 0.90) and increased 24-hour urine volumes (2100 [1455-3208] ml vs. 1915 [1110-2815] ml, p-value = 0.25). In addition, 1-year mortality was not different between the IABP and the control group (48.1% vs. 48.0%; hazard ratio 1.04, 95% CI 0.70-1.54, p-value = 0.851). CONCLUSION: IABP may be associated with longer ICU and hospital stays but not better short-and long-term clinical prognosis.

Efficient Atmospheric Water Harvesting of Superhydrophilic Photothermic Nanocapsule.

Drought and water scarcity are two of the world's major problems. Solar-powered sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting technology is a promising solution in this category. The main challenge is to design materials with high water harvesting performance while achieving fast water vapor adsorption/desorption rates. Here, a superhydrophilic photothermic hollow nanocapsule (SPHN) is represented that achieves efficient atmospheric water harvesting in outdoor climates. In SPHN, the hollow mesoporous silica (HMS) is grafted with polypyrrole (PPy) and also loaded with lithium chloride (LiCl). The hollow structure is used to store water while preventing leakage. The hydrophilic spherical nanocapsule and the trapped water produce more free and weakly adsorbed water. Significantly lower the heat of desorption compared to pure LiCl solution. Such SPHN significantly improves the adsorption/desorption kinetics, e.g., absorbs 0.78-2.01 g of water per gram of SPHN at 25 °C, relative humidity (RH) 30-80% within 3 h. In particular, SPHN has excellent photothermal properties to achieve rapid water release under natural sunlight conditions, i.e., 80-90% of water is released in 1 h at 0.7-1.0 kW m-2 solar irradiation, and 50% of water is released even at solar irradiation as low as 0.4 kW m-2 . The water collection capacity can reach 1.2 g g-1 per cycle by using the self-made atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) device. This finding provides a way to design novel materials for efficient water harvesting tasks, e.g., water engineering, freshwater generator, etc.

Matrine Protects Intestinal Barrier Function via MicroRNA-155 Through ROCK1-Signaling Pathway.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects on intestinal barrier function and tight junction by matrine via a small, non-coding RNA microRNA-155-signaling pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tight junction protein and target gene expressions were determined through microRNA-155 inhibition or overexpression of Caco-2 cell line with or without the treatment of matrine. In order to further verify the role of matrine, dextran sulfate sodium-induced mice colitis was treated by matrine. MicroRNA-155 and ROCK1 expressions were detected in clinical specimens of acute obstruction patients. RESULTS: Matrine could enhance the expression level of occludin, which might be inhibited by the overexpression of microRNA-155. After the transfection of the precursor of microRNA-155 into Caco-2 cells, ROCK1 expression was increased at both mRNA and protein levels. MicroRNA-155 inhibitor could decrease the ROCK1 expression after transfection. Furthermore, matrine could increase the permeability and decrease tight junction-associated proteins induced by dextran sulfate sodium-induced mice colitis. Clinical sample detection also found high levels of microRNA-155 in stercoral obstruction patients. CONCLUSIONS: Matrine could maintain the tight junction and protect the intestinal barrier from dysfunction. The molecular mechanism may be that matrine might inhibit microRNA-155 and increase the expression level of tight junction proteins.

Effect of dexmedetomidine on postoperative cognitive dysfunction and the T helper 17/regulatory T cell balance in geriatric patients undergoing orthopedic surgery: a randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on alleviating postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and T helper 17 (Th17)/regulatory T cell (Treg) imbalance in geriatric patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. METHODS: A total of 82 geriatric patients undergoing lower extremity joint replacement surgery were enrolled and randomized into two groups. Patients in the experimental group received a loading dose of 0.5 µg/kg DEX for 10 min and then a maintenance dose of 0.5 µg/kg/h DEX until 30 min before the end of the surgery, while patients in the control group were administered with an equal volume of saline. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was used to evaluate the patients' cognitive function levels. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the protein levels of S100 calcium-binding protein B (S-100ß), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin-17A (IL-17A). The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect and compare the mRNA levels of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma-t (RORγt) and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), the ratio of which reflected Th17/Treg balance. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the MMSE scores in the DEX group were obviously higher at 24 and 72 h after the surgery, and the incidence of POCD was lower in the DEX group. Simultaneously, DEX significantly decreased the level of S100ß, MMP9, and the ratio of RORγt/Foxp3 mRNA at the end of the surgery and one day after surgery. Furthermore, IL-10 was upregulated, while the IL-17A and the IL-17A/IL-10 ratio were downregulated at the end of the surgery and one day after surgery in the DEX group. CONCLUSIONS: DEX could reduce the incidence of POCD in elderly orthopedic patients, which might be related to the attenuation of inflammatory response and blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage through modulating the Th17/Treg imbalance.

[A study of airborne pollen monitoring and its connection with allergic rhinitis visits in Taiyuan over the summer and autumn seasons].

Objective:To explore the distribution of airborne pollen in summer and autumn in Taiyuan, analyze the correlation between pollen characteristics, meteorological factors and allergic sensitization, and provide for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases in this. Methods:The gravity sedimentation method was used to investigate the types, quantities and dispersion patterns of airborne pollen in Taiyuan City from July 21, 2022 to October 20, 2022. he meteorological and patient information was collected during the same period SPSS 26.0 software. Results:①A total of 17 118 pollen grains were collected, and identified as 14 families, 10 genera, and 4 species. The peak period for pollen dispersal in summer and autumn in Taiyuan City from late August to early September. airborne pollen Artemisia（66.62%）, Cannabis/Humulus（17.79%）, Sophora japonica（8.18%）, Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae（2.83%）, Gramineae（2.11%）. ②The concentration of airborne pollen in Taiyuan City positively correlated with the average temperature（5-20℃） and maximum temperature（11-30℃） within a certain range（r=0.547, 0.315, P<0.05）. ③The content of airborne pollen in Taiyuan City positively correlated with the number of visits and allergen positive rate of patients with allergic rhinitis（AR） in our hospital（r=0.702, 0.747, P<0.05）. Conclusion:The peak period for airborne pollen dispersal during the summer and autumn seasons in Taiyuan City from late August to early September. The dominant pollen is Artemisia, Cannabis/Humulus, Sophora japonica, Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae, Gramineae, and the absolute advantage pollen is Artemisia. Meteorological factors pollen content. Within a certain range, temperature the diffusion and transportation of pollen. The number of pollen grains the number of visits, which can serve as an environmental warning indicator for AR patients to take preventive, thereby reducing the risk of allergies.