ncRNA-mediated SOX4 overexpression correlates with unfavorable outcomes and immune infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The activity and number of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment are closely related to the overall survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The sex-determining region Y-box 4 (SOX4) gene is abnormally expressed in various tumor tissues and is critical for tumor development. However, the correlation between SOX4 expression in HCC and tumor immunity is unclear. METHODS: SOX4 expression was explored using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, and UALCAN databases. Real-time reverse transcription quantitative and western blotting were used to analyze SOX4 expression in several liver cancer cell lines. Additionally, correlations among SOX4 expression, cancer immune characteristics, and infiltrated immune cell gene marker sets in patients with HCC were analyzed using data from the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, and Tumor-Immune System Interactions databases. Moreover, we evaluated SOX4 expression in HCC tissues and the correlation of SOX4 expression with survival rate. Subsequently, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) responsible for SOX4 overexpression were identified using expression, correlation, and survival analyses. RESULTS: SOX4 expression was significantly upregulated in HCC and correlated with a poor prognosis. Additionally, SOX4 upregulation in HCC positively correlated with immune cell infiltration, several biomarkers of immune cells, and immune checkpoint expression. Finally, the MCM3AP-AS1/hsa-miR-204-5p axis was identified as the most likely upstream ncRNA-related pathway for SOX4 in HCC. These results indicated that ncRNA-mediated upregulation of SOX4 correlated with the immune infiltration level and poor prognosis in HCC. Our findings provide new directions for the development of novel immunotherapeutic targets for HCC.

Comparison of Predictability in Vault Using NK Formula and KS Formula for the Implantable Collamer Lens Surgery.

Background: This study aims to investigate the agreement between the NK and KS formulas in predicting the vault after implantation of an EVO-implantable collamer lens (ICL). Methods: This retrospective study included 106 eyes of 57 patients who underwent ICL-V4c implantation. Preoperative vault prediction was conducted by utilizing the NK and KS formulas, with postoperative measurements by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) at one month. The analysis focused on the consistency between predicted and achieved vaults, as well as the correlation between the achieved vault and various biometric parameters. Results: The mean achieved vault was 605.25 ± 212.72 µm, which was significantly smaller than the predicted vaults of 710.08 ± 195.08 and 673.80 ± 212.76 µm, using the NK and KS formulas, respectively (P < 0.05). The mean differences between the achieved vault and the predicted vault using the NK formula and KS formula were -104.82 µm (95% LoA: -600.38-391.19 µm) and -68.55 µm (95% LoA: -628.91-491.82 µm), respectively. Anterior chamber depth (ACD), vertical sulcus-to-sulcus (V-STS) diameter, and crystalline lens rise (CLR) were independent factors associated with the achieved vault (P < 0.05). The two formulas showed no statistically significant difference in absolute prediction error (APE). Conclusion: The NK formula exhibited superior consistency and low predictive error compared to the KS formula in the 12.6 mm ICL group. AS-OCT measurements overestimated the predicted ICL vault, especially in the 13.2 mm ICL size selection. Relying solely on the NK or KS formulas for predicting vaults before ICL surgery is not recommended.

Physical activity lower blood pressure and mortality in hypertensive patients with diabetes: data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018.

In prior research related to physical activity, researchers have often centered their focus on only a limited number of activities, with little regard for mortality-related outcomes and insufficient focus on outcomes among diabetes patients with hypertension. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was evaluated from 1999-2018 to identify individual with both diabetes and hypertension. These individuals were classified as being physically active or inactive. Comparisons among groups were performed with appropriate statistical tests. In total, this study evaluated data from 6,163 patients with a mean age of 63.18 ± 12.80 years. A total of 50.30% of the participants were male, with 39.86% being non-Hispanic white, 57.17% with a normal body mass index, and 89.20% were insured. Physical activity was significantly negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure in the overall population (p = 0.01) and when specifically focusing on individuals undergoing antihypertensive drug treatment (p = 0.0035). This negative relationship remained intact even following adjustment for age, sex, and ethnicity (p = 0.03). Physical activity was positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure in the overall population of participants (p = 0.002) and when specifically evaluating participants undergoing antihypertensive drug treatment (p = 0.02). All-cause and hypertensive mortality risk levels were significantly higher among individuals classified as being physically inactive (p < 0.0001), and this relationship remained true even with adjustment for age, sex, and ethnicity (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, physical activity is capable of lowering systolic blood pressure and decreasing the incidence of mortality among diabetes patients with hypertension.

Empirical and modified hemostatic resuscitation for liver blast injury combined with seawater immersion: A preliminary study.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of empirical and modified hemostatic resuscitation for liver blast injury combined with seawater immersion. METHODS: Thirty rabbits were subjected to liver blast injury combined with seawater immersion, and were then divided into 3 groups randomly (n = 10 each): group A (no treatment after immersion), group B (empirical resuscitation with 20 mL hydroxyethyl starch, 50 mg tranexamic acid, 25 IU prothrombin complex concentrate and 50 mg/kg body weight fibrinogen concentrate), and group C (modified resuscitation with additional 10 IU prothrombin complex concentrate and 20 mg/kg body weight fibrinogen concentrate based on group B). Blood samples were gathered at specified moments for assessment of thromboelastography, routine coagulation test, and biochemistry. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and survival rate were also documented at each time point. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to examine the normality of data distribution. Multigroup comparisons were conducted with one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Liver blast injury combined with seawater immersion resulted in severe coagulo-fibrinolytic derangement as indicated by prolonged prothrombin time (s) (11.53 ± 0.98 vs. 7.61 ± 0.28, p＜0.001), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (s) (33.48 ± 6.66 vs. 18.23 ± 0.89, p＜0.001), reaction time (R) (min) (5.85 ± 0.96 vs. 2.47 ± 0.53, p＜0.001), decreased maximum amplitude (MA) (mm) (53.20 ± 5.99 vs. 74.92 ± 5.76, p＜0.001) and fibrinogen concentration (g/L) (1.188 ± 0.29 vs. 1.890 ± 0.32, p = 0.003), and increased D-dimer concentration (mg/L) (0.379 ± 0.32 vs. 0.051 ± 0.03, p = 0.005). Both empirical and modified hemostatic resuscitation could improve the coagulo-fibrinolytic states and organ function, as indicated by shortened APTT and R values, decreased D-dimer concentration, increased fibrinogen concentration and MA values, lower concentration of blood urea nitrogen and creatine kinase-MB in group B and group C rabbits in comparison to that observed in group A. Further analysis found that the R values (min) (4.67 ± 0.84 vs. 3.66 ± 0.98, p = 0.038), APTT (s) (23.16 ± 2.75 vs. 18.94 ± 1.05, p = 0.001), MA (mm) (60.10 ± 4.74 vs. 70.21 ± 3.01, p < 0.001), and fibrinogen concentration (g/L) (1.675 ± 0.21 vs. 1.937 ± 0.16, p = 0.013) were remarkably improved in group C than in group B at 2 h and 4 h after injury. In addition, the concentration of blood urea nitrogen (mmol/L) (24.11 ± 1.96 vs. 21.00 ± 3.78, p = 0.047) and creatine kinase-MB (U/L) (85.50 ± 13.60 vs. 69.74 ± 8.56, p = 0.013) were lower in group C than in group B at 6 h after injury. The survival rates in group B and group C were significantly higher than those in group A at 4 h and 6 h after injury (p < 0.001), however, there were no statistical differences in survival rates between group B and group C at each time point. CONCLUSIONS: Modified hemostatic resuscitation could improve the coagulation parameters and organ function better than empirical hemostatic resuscitation.

Study on the occurrence and influencing factors of gastrointestinal symptoms in hemodialysis patients with uremia.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in patients with uremia undergoing hemodialysis, and these symptoms seriously affect patients' prognosis. AIM: To assess the occurrence and factors influencing gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with uremia undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: We retrospectively selected 98 patients with uremia who underwent regular hemodialysis treatment in the blood purification center of our hospital from December 2022 to December 2023. The gastrointestinal symptoms and scores of each dimension were evaluated using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Grading Scale (GSRS). Patients were divided into gastrointestinal symptoms and no gastrointestinal symptom groups according to whether they had gastrointestinal symptoms. The factors that may affect gastrointestinal symptoms were identified by single-factor analysis. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for gastrointestinal symptoms. RESULTS: Gastrointestinal symptoms included indigestion, constipation, reflux, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and eating disorders, and the total average GSRS score was 1.35 ± 0.47. This study showed that age, number of tablets, dialysis time, glucocorticoid, parathyroid hormone (PTH), combined diabetes mellitus and C-reactive protein (CRP) were independent risk factors for gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with uremia undergoing hemodialysis, whereas body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin (Hb), and urea clearance index were independent protective factors (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Gastrointestinal symptoms are mostly mild in patients with uremia undergoing hemodialysis, most commonly including dyspepsia, eating disorders, and gastroesophageal reflux. The independent influencing factors mainly include the BMI, age, number of pills taken, dialysis time, urea clearance index, Hb, use of glucocorticoids, and thyroid hormone level. PTH, CRP, and diabetes are clinically related factors influencing the occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms, and targeted prevention can be performed.

Preparation and Application of a Novel S-Scheme Nanoheterojunction Photocatalyst (LaNi0.6Fe0.4O3/g-C3N4).

Rapid recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes affects the performance of a semiconductor device and limits the efficiency of photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production. The use of an S-scheme nanoscale heterojunction catalyst for the separation of photogenerated charge carriers is a feasible approach to achieve high-efficiency photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Therefore, we synthesized a three-dimensional S-scheme nanoscale heterojunction catalyst (LaNi0.6Fe0.4O3/g-C3N4) and investigated its activity in photocatalytic water splitting. An analysis of the band structure (XPS, UPS, and Mott-Schottky) indicated effective interfacial charge transfer in an S-scheme nanoscale heterojunction composed of two n-type semiconductors. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy confirmed that the light-induced charge transfer followed the S-scheme mechanism. Based on the capture test (EPR) of •OH free radicals, it can be seen that the enhanced activity is attributed to the S-scheme carrier migration mechanism in heterojunction, which promotes the rapid adsorption of H+ by the abundant amino sites in g-C3N4, thus effectively generating H2. The 2D/2D LaNi0.6Fe0.4O3/g-C3N4 heterojunction has a good interface and produces a built-in electric field, improving the separation of e- and h+ while increasing the oxygen vacancy. The synergistic effect of the heterostructure and oxygen vacancy makes the photocatalyst significantly better than LaNi0.6Fe0.4O3 and g-C3N4 in visible light. The hydrogen evolution rate of the composite catalyst (LaNi0.6Fe0.4O3/g-C3N4-70 wt %) was 34.50 mmol·h-1·g-1, which was 40.6 times and 9.2 times higher than that of the catalysts (LaNiO3 and g-C3N4), respectively. After 25 h of cyclic testing, the catalyst (LaNi0.6Fe0.4O3/g-C3N4-70 wt %) composite material still exhibited excellent hydrogen evolution performance and photostability. It was confirmed that the synergistic effect between abundant active sites, enriched oxygen vacancies, and 2D/2D heterojunctions improved the photoinduced carrier separation and the light absorption efficiency of visible light. This study opens up new possibilities for the logical design of efficient photodecomposition using 2D/2D heterojunctions combined with oxygen vacancies.

RUNX3-activated apelin signaling inhibits cell proliferation and fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy by regulation of the SIRT1/FOXO pathway.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic nephropathy is a major secondary cause of end-stage renal disease. Apelin plays an important role in the development of DN. Understanding the exact mechanism of Apelin can help expand the means of treating DN. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice was used and STZ treatment was implemented for DN model establishment. Lentivirus systems including Lv-sh-RUNX3 and Lv-Apelin were obtained to knockdown RUNX3 and overexpress Apelin, respectively. A total of 36 mice were divided into 6 groups (n = 6 in each group): control, DN, DN + LV-Vector, DN + Lv-Apelin, DN + LV-Apelin + LV-sh-NC and DN + Lv-Apelin + Lv-sh-RUNX3 group. In vitro studies were performed using mesangial cells. Cell viability and proliferation was assessed through CCK8 and EDU analysis. Hematoxylin and eosin staining as well as Masson staining was implemented for histological evaluation. RT-qPCR was conducted for measuring relative mRNA levels, and protein expression was detected by western blotting. The interaction between SIRT1 and FOXO were verified by co-immunoprecipitations, and relations between RUNX3 and Apelin were demonstrated by dual luciferase report and chromatin immunoprecipitation. RESULTS: The DN group exhibited significantly lower Apelin expression compared to control (p < 0.05). Apelin overexpression markedly improved blood glucose, renal function indicators, ameliorated renal fibrosis and reduced fibrotic factor expression (p < 0.05) in the DN group, accompanied by elevated sirt1 levels and diminished acetylated FOXO1/FOXO3a (p < 0.05). However, RUNX3 knockdown combined with Apelin overexpression abrogated these beneficial effects, leading to impaired renal function, exacerbated fibrosis, increased fibrotic factor expression and acetylated FOXO1/FOXO3a versus Apelin overexpression alone (p < 0.05). In mesangial cells under high glucose, Apelin overexpression significantly inhibited cell proliferation and fibrotic factor production (p < 0.05). Conversely, RUNX3 interference enhanced cell proliferation and the secretion of fibrotic factors. (p < 0.05). Remarkably, combining Apelin overexpression with RUNX3 interference reversed the proliferation and fibrosis induced by RUNX3 interference (p < 0.05). Mechanistic studies revealed RUNX3 binds to the Apelin promoter, with the 467-489 bp site1 as the primary binding region, and SIRT1 physically interacts with FOXO1 and FOXO3a in mesangial cells. CONCLUSION: RUNX3 activated Apelin and regulated the SIRT1/FOXO signaling pathway, resulting in the suppressed cell proliferation and fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy. Apelin is a promising endogenous therapeutic target for anti-renal injury and anti-fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy. RUNX3 may serve as an endogenous intervention target for diseases related to Apelin deficiency.

Honokiol as an α-glucosidase inhibitor.

Honokiol, a naturally occurring compound from Magnolia obovata Thunb., has many biological activities, but its anti-α-glucosidase activity is still unclear. Therefore, we determined its inhibitory effects against α-glucosidase. Activity assays showed that honokiol was a reversible mixed-type inhibitor of α-glucosidase, and its IC50 value was 317.11 ± 12.86 µM. Fluorescence results indicated that the binding of honokiol to α-glucosidase caused a reduction in α-glucosidase activity. 3D fluorescence and CD spectra results indicated that the binding of honokiol to α-glucosidase caused conformational change in α-glucosidase. Docking simulated the detailed interactions between honokiol and α-glucosidase, including hydrogen and hydrophobic bonds. All findings showed that honokiol could be used as a natural inhibitor to develop α-glucosidase agents.

Successful Retrograde Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusion in a Patient with Dextrocardia.

Dextrocardia is a very rare congenital malposition, and most cardiologists are not familiar with the radiographic angiograms of this condition. Here, we first report a case of dextrocardia with a chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesion undergoing retrograde percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Significant difficulties in lesion interpretation and device manipulation were encountered with the original angiograms. These challenges were not significantly improved until we adopted the double-inversion technique. The procedure was finally accomplished by using the kissing wire technique with a poor angle of attack. Retrograde CTO PCI for patients with dextrocardia is feasible with adequate techniques.

Identification of stable reference genes for relative quantification of long RNA expression in urinary extracellular vesicles.

Urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) are rich in valuable biomolecule information which are increasingly recognized as potential biomarkers for various diseases. uEV long RNAs are among the critical cargos capable of providing unique transcriptome information of the source cells. However, consensus regarding ideal reference genes for relative long RNAs quantification in uEVs is not available as of date. Here we explored stable reference genes through profiling the long RNA expression by RNA-seq following unsupervised analysis and validation studies. Candidate reference genes were identified using four algorithms: NormFinder, GeNorm, BestKeeper and the Delta Ct method, followed by validation. RNA profile showed uEVs contained abundant long RNAs information and the core transcriptome was related to cellular structures, especially ribosome which functions mainly as translation, protein and RNA binding molecules. Analysis of RNA-seq data identified RPL18A, RPL11, RPL27, RACK1, RPSA, RPL41, H1-2, RPL4, GAPDH, RPS27A as candidate reference genes. RT-qPCR validation revealed that RPL41, RPSA and RPL18A were reliable reference genes for long RNA quantification in uEVs from patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), diabetic nephropathy (DN), IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and prostate cancer (PCA). Interestingly, RPL41 also outperformed traditional reference genes in renal tissues of DN and IgAN, as well as in plasma EVs of several types of cancers. The stable reference genes identified in this study may facilitate development of uEVs as novel biomarkers and increase the accuracy and comparability of biomarker studies.

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OBJECTIVES: To investigate the risk factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in twin preterm infants with a gestational age of <34 weeks, and to provide a basis for early identification of BPD in twin preterm infants in clinical practice. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the twin preterm infants with a gestational age of <34 weeks who were admitted to 22 hospitals nationwide from January 2018 to December 2020. According to their conditions, they were divided into group A (both twins had BPD), group B (only one twin had BPD), and group C (neither twin had BPD). The risk factors for BPD in twin preterm infants were analyzed. Further analysis was conducted on group B to investigate the postnatal risk factors for BPD within twins. RESULTS: A total of 904 pairs of twins with a gestational age of <34 weeks were included in this study. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with group C, birth weight discordance of >25% between the twins was an independent risk factor for BPD in one of the twins (OR=3.370, 95%CI: 1.500-7.568, P<0.05), and high gestational age at birth was a protective factor against BPD (P<0.05). The conditional logistic regression analysis of group B showed that small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth was an independent risk factor for BPD in individual twins (OR=5.017, 95%CI: 1.040-24.190, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The development of BPD in twin preterm infants is associated with gestational age, birth weight discordance between the twins, and SGA birth.

Manufacturing biodegradable lignocellulosic films with tunable properties from spent coffee grounds: A sustainable alternative to plastics.

Manufacturing biodegradable lignocellulosic films from spent coffee grounds (SCG) as an alternative to commercial plastics is a viable solution to address plastic pollution. Here, the biodegradable lignocellulosic films from SCG were fabricated via a sequential alkaline treatment and ionic liquid-based dissolution process. The alkaline treatment process could swell the cell wall of SCG, change its carbohydrates and lignin contents, and enhance its solubility in ionic liquids. The prepared SCG films with different lignin contents exhibited outstanding UV blocking capability (42.07-99.99 % for UVB and 20.96-99.99 % for UVA) and light scattering properties, good surface hydrophobicity (water contact angle = 63.2°-88.7°), enhanced water vapor barrier property (2.28-6.79 × 10-12 g/m·s·Pa), and good thermal stability. Moreover, the SCG films exhibit excellent mechanical strength (50.10-81.56 MPa, tensile strength) and biodegradability (fully degraded within 30 days when buried in soil) compared to commercial plastic. The SCG films represent a promising alternative that can replace non-biodegradable plastics.

Qizhu anticancer prescription enhances immunosurveillance of liver cancer cells by regulating p21-dependent secretory phenotypes.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, largely due to the limitations of available therapeutic strategies. The traditional Chinese medicine Qizhu Anticancer Prescription (QZACP) can improve the quality of life and prolong the survival time of patients with HCC. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer properties of QZACP remain unclear. PURPOSE: This study examined the anti-hepatocarcinogenic properties of QZACP, with a specific focus on its influence on the p21-activated secretory phenotype (PASP)-mediated immune surveillance, to elucidate the underlying molecular pathways involved in HCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell proliferation was measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, and clonogenic assays. The cell cycle was evaluated using flow cytometry, and senescence was identified by staining with senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-ß-gal). A primary liver cancer model produced by diethylnitrosamine was established in C57 BL/6 mice to assess the tumor-inhibitory effect of QZACP. The liver's pathological characteristics were examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining. PASP screening was performed using GeneCards, DisGeNet, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases. Western blot analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence staining, and Transwell migration assays were performed. RESULTS: Serum containing QZACP enhanced p21 expression, triggered cell cycle arrest, accelerated cell senescence, and suppressed cell proliferation in Huh7 and MHCC-97H liver cancer cells. QZACP reduced the quantity and dimensions of liver tumor nodules and enhanced p21 protein expression, SA-ß-Gal staining in tumor lesions, and cytotoxic CD8+ T cell infiltration. Bioinformatic analyses indicated that PASP factors, including hepatocyte growth factor, decorin (DCN), dermatopontin, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 14 (CXCL14), and Wnt family member 2 (WNT2), play an important role in the development of HCC. In addition, these factors are associated with the presence of natural killer cells and CD8+ T cells within tumors. Western blotting and ELISA confirmed that QZACP increased DCN, CXCL14, and WNT2 levels in tumor tissues and peripheral blood. CONCLUSIONS: QZACP's suppression of HCC progression may involve cell senescence mediated via p21 upregulation, DCN, CXCL14, and WNT2 secretion, and reversal of the immunosuppressive microenvironment. This study provides insights that can be used in the development of new treatment strategies for HCC.

Enhancing OFDM with index modulation using heuristic geometric constellation shaping and generalized interleaving for underwater VLC.

In this paper, we propose and demonstrate enhanced orthogonal frequency division multiplexing with index modulation (OFDM-IM) schemes for bandlimited underwater visible light communication (UVLC) systems via geometric constellation shaping (GCS) and subblock interleaving. Specifically, two heuristic GCS approaches based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) and hybrid genetic algorithm-PSO (GA-PSO) algorithms are proposed to generate IM-preferable constellations. Moreover, a generalized interleaving technique is further proposed to overcome the low-pass effect of bandlimited UVLC systems, where an optimal step size can be obtained to perform subblock interleaving. Simulation and experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed enhanced OFDM-IM schemes in bandlimited UVLC systems, where both OFDM with single-mode index modulation (OFDM-SM) and OFDM with dual-mode index modulation (OFDM-DM) schemes are considered. The experimental results demonstrate remarkable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gains of 1.3 and 1.9 dB for OFDM-SM and OFDM-DM in comparison to the benchmark schemes, respectively.

Related factors of perioperative low body temperature and incidence of postoperative shivering in patients undergoing complex percutaneous nephrolithotomy and the effect analysis of composite insulation nursing intervention.

This study aimed to analyze the factors associated with intraoperative hypothermia and postoperative shivering rates in patients undergoing complex percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and investigate the effects of combined insulation nursing intervention. A total of 168 patients were included, with 103 patients in the control (Ctrl) group receiving routine care and 65 patients in the nursing (Nur) group receiving combined insulation nursing intervention measures. General information, surgical data, temperature, intraoperative hypothermia incidence, postoperative shivering, and complication rates were statistically analyzed between the two groups. Patient temperature, blood pressure, and blood gas indicators including pH value, bicarbonate, and lactate levels were recorded at admission (T0), before anesthesia (T1), 30 min after spinal-epidural combined anesthesia (T2), 60 min (T3), 90 min (T4), 120 min (T5), and postoperatively (T6). The results demonstrated that the average intraoperative temperature of patients in the Nur group was significantly higher than that of the Ctrl group (P < 0.001), and their incidence of hypothermia was significantly lower than that of the Ctrl group (P < 0.01). Additionally, the Nur group exhibited shorter recovery time (18.36 ± 3.58 min), extubation time (28.01 ± 3.12 min), and length of hospital stay (8.45 ± 2.14 days) compared to the Ctrl group (P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative shivering was 4.62 %, significantly lower than that of the Ctrl group (P < 0.001). Multifactorial analysis revealed that age ≥60 years, stone diameter ≥3.0 cm, irrigation volume ≥3000 mL, nursing intervention measures, and surgical duration were the main factors influencing the occurrence of intraoperative hypothermia. Age ≥60 years, nursing intervention measures, surgical duration, and intraoperative temperature<36 °C are identified as major risk factors for postoperative shivering. This indicates that specialized nursing care and combined insulation nursing intervention measures in patients undergoing complex percutaneous nephrolithotomy contribute to reducing the incidence of intraoperative hypothermia and postoperative shivering. It is recommended to promptly address the risk factors associated with hypothermia and shivering during and after surgery to mitigate the risk of perioperative complications.

Clathrate metal superhydrides under high-pressure conditions: enroute to room-temperature superconductivity.

Room-temperature superconductivity has been a long-held dream of mankind and a focus of considerable interest in the research field of superconductivity. Significant progress has recently been achieved in hydrogen-based superconductors found in superhydrides (hydrides with unexpectedly high hydrogen contents) that are stabilized under high-pressure conditions and are not capturable at ambient conditions. Of particular interest is the discovery of a class of best-ever-known superconductors in clathrate metal superhydrides that hold the record for high superconductivity (e.g. T c = 250-260 K for LaH10) among known superconductors and have great promise to be those that realize the long-sought room-temperature superconductivity. In these peculiar clathrate superhydrides, hydrogen forms unusual 'clathrate' cages containing encaged metal atoms, of which such a kind was first reported in a calcium hexa-superhydride (CaH6) showing a measured high T c of 215 K under a pressure of 170 GPa. In this review, we aim to offer an overview of the current status of research progress on the clathrate metal superhydride superconductors, discuss the superconducting mechanism and highlight the key features (e.g. structure motifs, bonding features, electronic structure, etc.) that govern the high-temperature superconductivity. Future research direction along this line to find room-temperature superconductors will be discussed.

TRIM25-mediated XRCC1 ubiquitination accelerates atherosclerosis by inducing macrophage M1 polarization and programmed death.

BACKGROUND: Macrophage-mediated cleaning up of dead cells is a crucial determinant in reducing coronary artery inflammation and maintaining vascular homeostasis. However, this process also leads to programmed death of macrophages. So far, the role of macrophage death in the progression of atherosclerosis remains controversial. Also, the underlying mechanism by which transcriptional regulation and reprogramming triggered by macrophage death pathways lead to changes in vascular inflammation and remodeling are still largely unknown. TRIM25-mediated RIG-I signaling plays a key role in regulation of macrophages fate, however the role of TRIM25 in macrophage death-mediated atherosclerotic progression remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the relationship between TRIM25 and macrophage death in atherosclerosis. METHODS: A total of 34 blood samples of patients with coronary stent implantation, including chronic total occlusion (CTO) leisions (n = 14) or with more than 50% stenosis of a coronary artery but without CTO leisions (n = 20), were collected, and the serum level of TRIM25 was detected by ELISA. Apoe-/- mice with or without TRIM25 gene deletion were fed with the high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks and the plaque areas, necrotic core size, aortic fibrosis and inflammation were investigated. TRIM25 wild-type and deficient macrophages were isolated, cultured and stimulated with ox-LDL, RNA-seq, real-time PCR, western blot and FACS experiments were used to screen and validate signaling pathways caused by TRIM25 deletion. RESULTS: Downregulation of TRIM25 was observed in circulating blood of CTO patients and also in HFD-induced mouse aortas. After HFD for 12 weeks, TRIM25-/-ApoeE-/- mice developed smaller atherosclerotic plaques, less inflammation, lower collagen content and aortic fibrosis compared with TRIM25+/+ApoeE-/- mice. By RNA-seq and KEGG enrichment analysis, we revealed that deletion of TRIM25 mainly affected pyroptosis and necroptosis pathways in ox-LDL-induced macrophages, and the expressions of PARP1 and RIPK3, were significantly decreased in TRIM25 deficient macrophages. Overexpression of TRIM25 promoted M1 polarization and necroptosis of macrophages, while inhibition of PARP1 reversed this process. Further, we observed that XRCC1, a repairer of DNA damage, was significantly upregulated in TRIM25 deficient macrophages, inhibiting PARP1 activity and PARP1-mediated pro-inflammatory change, M1 polarization and necroptosis of macrophages. By contrast, TRIM25 overexpression mediated ubiquitination of XRCC1, and the inhibition of XRCC1 released PARP1, and activated macrophage M1 polarization and necroptosis, which accelerated aortic inflammation and atherosclerotic plaque progression. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has uncovered a crucial role of the TRIM25-XRCC1Ub-PARP1-RIPK3 axis in regulating macrophage death during atherosclerosis, and we highlight the potential therapeutic significance of macrophage reprogramming regulation in preventing the development of atherosclerosis.

Cordycepin Modulates Microglial M2 Polarization Coupled with Mitochondrial Metabolic Reprogramming by Targeting HKII and PDK2.

The microenvironment mediated by the microglia (MG) M1/M2 phenotypic switch plays a decisive role in the neuronal fate and cognitive function of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the impact of metabolic reprogramming on microglial polarization and its underlying mechanism remains elusive. This study reveals that cordycepin improved cognitive function and memory in APP/PS1 mice, as well as attenuated neuronal damage by triggering MG-M2 polarization and metabolic reprogramming characterized by increased OXPHOS and glycolysis, rather than directly protecting neurons. Simultaneously, cordycepin partially alleviates mitochondrial damage in microglia induced by inhibitors of OXPHOS and glycolysis, further promoting MG-M2 transformation and increasing neuronal survival. Through confirmation of cordycepin distribution in the microglial mitochondria via mitochondrial isolation followed by HPLC-MS/MS techniques, HKII and PDK2 are further identified as potential targets of cordycepin. By investigating the effects of HKII and PDK2 inhibitors, the mechanism through which cordycepin targeted HKII to elevate ECAR levels in the glycolysis pathway while targeting PDK2 to enhance OCR levels in PDH-mediated OXPHOS pathway, thereby inducing MG-M2 polarization, promoting neuronal survival and exerting an anti-AD role is elucidated.

Waist subcutaneous soft tissue metastasis of rectal mucinous adenocarcinoma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Rectal mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC) is a rare pathological type of rectal cancer with unique pathological features and a poor prognosis. It is difficult to diagnose and treat early because of the lack of specific manifestations in some aspects of the disease. The common metastatic organs of rectal cancer are the liver and lung; however, rectal carcinoma with metastasis to subcutaneous soft tissue is a rare finding. CASE SUMMARY: In this report, the clinical data, diagnosis and treatment process, and postoperative pathological features of a patient with left waist subcutaneous soft tissue masses were retrospectively analyzed. The patient underwent surgical treatment after admission and recovered well after surgery. The final pathological diagnosis was rectal MAC with left waist subcutaneous soft tissue metastasis. CONCLUSION: Subcutaneous soft tissue metastasis of rectal MAC is rare, and it can suggest that the tumor is disseminated, and it can appear even earlier than the primary malignant tumor, which is occult and leads to a missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis clinically. When a subcutaneous soft tissue mass of unknown origin appears in a patient with rectal cancer, a malignant tumor should be considered.

Synergistic Construction of Superhydrophilic PVDF Membranes by Dual Modification Strategies for Efficient Emulsion Separation.

Solving the problem of oil and water pollution is an important topic in environmental protection. The separation of oil-water emulsion with high efficiency and low consumption has been the direction of social efforts. Membrane separation technology combined with surface wettability and pore size screening is considered to be one of the most promising ways to separate oil-water emulsions. In this paper, the polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane is prepared by combining the two methods of blending and coating modification as a double barrier. The prepared PVDF membrane can completely wet water, achieve superhydrophilic in air, and superoleophobic underwater. The separation efficiency and flux are 99.57% and 678 L h-1 m-2 bar-1, respectively, for toluene emulsions containing surfactants with an average particle size of 1.7 µm. At the same time, it can also effectively separate different kinds of light/heavy oils. After three cycles of testing still maintain high efficiency of separation. The results show that the prepared PVDF membrane can effectively separate the emulsion containing surfactant with smaller particle size distribution of oil droplets. This method provides a new strategy for the separation of oil-water emulsions and has broad application prospects.