A new strategy for accelerating recovery of anaerobic granular sludge after low-temperature shock: In situ regulation of quorum sensing microorganisms embedded in polyvinyl alcohol sodium alginate.

Low-temperature could inhibit the performance of anaerobic granular sludge (AnGS). Quorum sensing (QS), as a communication mode between microorganisms, can effectively regulate AnGS. In this study, a kind of embedded particles (PVA/SA@Serratia) based on signal molecule secreting bacteria was prepared by microbial immobilization technology based on polyvinyl alcohol and sodium alginate to accelerate the recovery of AnGS system after low temperature. Low-temperature shock experiment verified the positive effect of PVA/SA@Serratia on restoring the COD removal rate and methanogenesis capacity of AnGS. Further analysis by metagenomics analysis showed that PVA/SA@Serratia stimulated higher QS activity and promoted the secretion of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) in AnGS. The rapid construction of EPS protective layer effectively accelerated the establishment of a robust microbial community structure. PVA/SA@Serratia also enhanced multiple methanogenic pathways, including direct interspecies electron transfer. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that PVA/SA@Serratia could effectively strengthen AnGS after low-temperature shock.

Characteristics and health impacts of bioaerosols in animal barns: A comprehensive study.

Bioaerosols produced during animal production have potential adverse effects on the health of workers and animals. Our objective was to investigate characteristics, antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs), and health risks of bioaerosols in various animal barns. Poultry and swine barns had high concentrations of airborne bacteria (11156 and 10917 CFU/m3, respectively). Acinetobacter, Clostridium sensu stricto, Corynebacterium, Pseudomonas, Psychrobacter, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus were dominant pathogenic bacteria in animal barns, with Firmicutes being the most abundant bacterial phylum. Based on linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe), there were more discriminative biomarkers in cattle barns than in poultry or swine barns, although the latter had the highest abundance of bacterial pathogens and high abundances of ARGs (including tetM, tetO, tetQ, tetW sul1, sul2, ermA, ermB) and intI1). Based on network analyses, there were higher co-occurrence patterns between bacteria and ARGs in bioaerosol from swine barns. Furthermore, in these barns, relative abundance of bacteria in bioaerosol samples was greatly affected by environmental factors, mainly temperature, relative humidity, and concentrations of CO2, NH3, and PM2.5. This study provided novel data regarding airborne bio-contaminants in animal enclosures and an impetus to improve management to reduce potential health impacts on humans and animals.

Dynamic causes contribute to the increasing trend of red tides in the east China sea during 2020-2022.

Red tide is a marine phenomenon caused by the excessive growth of microscopic algae in the ocean. This study aims to analyze the development trends of red tides in the past 20 years and the dynamic external causes that induce red tides based on existing satellite remote sensing and numerical simulation data. And the changes in dominant species of red tides in different seasons are analyzed. The results show significant temperature fluctuations within the week before the red tide occurs, with an average increase of 1.42 °C. In contrast, the change in salinity is relatively small. Meanwhile, ocean fronts are areas in the ocean where different water masses meet and form boundaries. The average strength of ocean fronts increased by 3.7%, indicating enhanced ocean mixing over a short period of time. Under the combined influence of these factors, the probability of a red tide outbreak in the East China Sea increases rapidly. Therefore, this study has important reference value for further research on the causes of red tides and their response to ocean dynamic changes.

A core scientific problem in the treatment of central nervous system diseases: newborn neurons.

It has long been asserted that failure to recover from central nervous system diseases is due to the system's intricate structure and the regenerative incapacity of adult neurons. Yet over recent decades, numerous studies have established that endogenous neurogenesis occurs in the adult central nervous system, including humans'. This has challenged the long-held scientific consensus that the number of adult neurons remains constant, and that new central nervous system neurons cannot be created or renewed. Herein, we present a comprehensive overview of the alterations and regulatory mechanisms of endogenous neurogenesis following central nervous system injury, and describe novel treatment strategies that target endogenous neurogenesis and newborn neurons in the treatment of central nervous system injury. Central nervous system injury frequently results in alterations of endogenous neurogenesis, encompassing the activation, proliferation, ectopic migration, differentiation, and functional integration of endogenous neural stem cells. Because of the unfavorable local microenvironment, most activated neural stem cells differentiate into glial cells rather than neurons. Consequently, the injury-induced endogenous neurogenesis response is inadequate for repairing impaired neural function. Scientists have attempted to enhance endogenous neurogenesis using various strategies, including using neurotrophic factors, bioactive materials, and cell reprogramming techniques. Used alone or in combination, these therapeutic strategies can promote targeted migration of neural stem cells to an injured area, ensure their survival and differentiation into mature functional neurons, and facilitate their integration into the neural circuit. Thus can integration replenish lost neurons after central nervous system injury, by improving the local microenvironment. By regulating each phase of endogenous neurogenesis, endogenous neural stem cells can be harnessed to promote effective regeneration of newborn neurons. This offers a novel approach for treating central nervous system injury.

PaCHNOC: Packet and Circuit Hybrid Switching NoC for Real-Time Parallel Stream Signal Processing.

Real-time heterogeneous parallel embedded digital signal processor (DSP) systems process multiple data streams in parallel in a stringent time interval. This type of system on chip (SoC) requires the network on chip (NoC) to establish multiple symbiotic parallel data transmission paths with ultra-low transmission latency in real time. Our early NoC research PCCNOC meets this need. The PCCNOC uses packet routing to establish and lock a transmission circuit, so that PCCNOC is perfectly suitable for ultra-low latency and high-bandwidth transmission of long data packets. However, a parallel multi-data stream DSP system also needs to transmit roughly the same number of short data packets for job configuration and job execution status reports. While transferring short data packets, the link establishment routing delay of short data packets becomes relatively obvious. Our further research, thus, introduced PaCHNOC, a hybrid NoC in which long data packets are transmitted through a circuit established and locked by routing, and short data packets are attached to the routing packet and the transmission is completed during the routing process, thus avoiding the PCCNOC setup delay. Simulation shows that PaCHNOC performs well in supporting real-time heterogeneous parallel embedded DSP systems and achieves overall latency reduction 65% compared with related works. Finally, we used PaCHNOC in the baseband subsystem of a real 5G base station, which proved that our research is the best NoC for baseband subsystem of 5G base stations, which reduce 31% comprehensive latency in comparison to related works.

Estimated pulse wave velocity and cognitive outcomes: A post hoc analysis of SPRINT-MIND.

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness has been confirmed to be associated with cognitive impairment. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) is widely regarded as the gold standard for assessing arterial stiffness, yet it is not readily accessible. In response, the use of estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) has been proposed as a more accessible and cost-effective alternative. ePWV not only offers ease of calculation but also covers a broader spectrum of vascular aging processes, some of which may be distinct from those detected by cfPWV. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between ePWV and cognitive outcomes in SPRINT-MIND (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension). METHODS: This study was a post-hoc analysis of the SPRINT-MIND. The primary endpoint was a composite outcome including probable dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The calculation of ePWV was based on age and mean blood pressure. The association between ePWV and cognitive outcomes was assessed using Cox regression analysis. The response of ePWV to antihypertensive treatment at 12 months was used to define treatment efficacy. RESULTS: 8563 patients were enrolled. The ePWV was found to be independently associated with risk of probable dementia (Tertile 3 vs. Tertile 1: HR, 95% CI: 1.70, 1.08-2.68, P = 0.023, P for trend = 0.013), MCI (Tertile 3 vs. Tertile 1: HR, 95% CI: 2.35, 1.71-3.23, P < 0.001, P for trend < 0.001), and the composite outcome of probable dementia or MCI (Tertile 3 vs. Tertile 1: HR, 95% CI: 2.17, 1.65-2.86, P < 0.001, P for trend < 0.001). The combined effect of treatment allocation and the response of ePWV to treatment exhibited that intensive/ePWV responders had the lowest risk of the primary outcome (Log-rank P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: EPWV demonstrated independent predictive value for cognitive outcomes in SPRINT-MIND.

Mussel inspired sequential protein delivery based on self-healing injectable nanocomposite hydrogel.

Polysaccharide based self-healing and injectable hydrogels with reversible characteristics have widespread potential in protein drug delivery. However, it is a challenge to design the dynamic hydrogel for sequential release of protein drugs. Herein, we developed a novel mussel inspired sequential protein delivery dynamic polysaccharide hydrogel. The nanocomposite hydrogel can be fabricated through doping polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) into reversible covalent bond (imine bonds) crosslinked polymer networks of oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CEC), named PDA NPs@OHA-l-CEC. Besides multiple capabilities (i.e., injection, self-healing, and biodegradability), the nanocomposite hydrogel can achieve sustained and sequential protein delivery of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). PDA NPs doped in hydrogel matrix serve dual roles, acting as secondary protein release structures and form dynamic non-covalent interactions (i.e., hydrogen bonds) with polysaccharides. Moreover, by adjusting the oxidation degree of OHA, the hydrogels with different crosslinking density could control overall protein release rate. Analysis of different release kinetic models revealed that Fickian diffusion drove rapid VEGF release, while the slower BSA release followed a Super Case II transport mechanism. The novel biocompatible system achieved sequential release of protein drugs has potentials in multi-stage synergistic drug deliver based on dynamic hydrogel.

Association of serum albumin with heart failure mortality with NYHA class IV in Chinese patients: Insights from PhysioNet database (version 1.3).

BACKGROUND: Studies have proved that low albumin level is associated with increased mortality in most diseases, such as chronic kidney disease and hepatic cirrhosis. However, the relationship between albumin and all-cause death in heart failure patients in China is still unclear. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the association between albumin level and 28-day mortality in Chinese hospitalized patients with NYHA IV heart failure. METHODS: A total of 2008 Chinese patients were included. The correlation between serum albumin level and mortality was tested using a cox proportional hazards regression model. The smooth curve fitting was used to identify non-linear relationships between serum albumin and mortality. The Forest plot analysis was used to assess the association between albumin and 28-day mortality in different groups. RESULTS: Compared with patients with NYHA II-III, patients with NYHA IV had lower albumin level and higher mortality within 28 days. The albumin on admission was independently and inversely associated with the endpoint risk, which remained significant (hazard ratio: 0.80; 95 % confidence interval: 0.66 to 0.96; p = 0.0196) after multivariable adjustment. The smooth curve fitting showed with the increase of albumin, the mortality within 28 days would decrease. A subgroup analysis found that the inverse association between the albumin level and risk of the mortality was consistent across the subgroup stratified by possible influence factors. CONCLUSION: Serum albumin level is negatively associated with 28-day mortality in hospitalized heart failure patients within NYHA IV in China, which can be used as an independent predictor.

Hierarchical surface-modification of nano-Cu toward one pot H-transfer-coupling-cyclization-CO2 fixation tandem reactions.

Fixation of CO2 into dihydroisobenzofuran derivatives has enormous applications in both production of natural products and antidepressant drugs, and reducing the green-house effect. However, the relatively complicated multi-step processes limit the further expansion of such a valuable CO2 conversion strategy. Herein, we hierarchically modify the surface of Cu nanoparticles (NPs) with Ag NPs and the robust metal-organic framework (MOF), ZIF-8, and report the presence of the Cu-Ag yolk-shell nanoalloy based heterogeneous catalysts, Cu@Ag and Cu@Ag@ZIF-8. The latter exhibits a crystalline "raisin bread" structure and specific synergic activity for catalyzing the tandem reactions of intra-molecular H-transfer, C-C and C-O coupling, cyclization, and carboxylation from CO2, leading to the first non-homogeneous preparation of dihydroisobenzofuran derivatives in high yield, selectivity, and recyclability under mild conditions. Theoretical calculations elucidate the tandem reaction pathway synergically catalyzed by Cu@Ag@ZIF-8, which offers insights for designing multiphase catalysts towards both organic synthesis and CO2 fixation through tandem processes in one pot.

Elevated KDM4D Expression in Pterygium: Impact and Potential Inhibition by Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharide.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the effects of elevated KDM4D expression and potential therapeutic effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on pterygium. Methods: The expression levels of KDM4D in the primary pterygium (n = 29) and normal conjunctiva (n = 14) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The effects of KDM4D on pterygium fibroblasts were detected by the CCK-8 assay, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay, flow cytometry, and scratch wound healing assay. The relative expression of KDM4D in pterygium fibroblasts stimulated by interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, and LBP was detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot. The effects of LBP on pterygium fibroblasts were detected using flow cytometry and scratch wound healing assays. Results: The expression level of KDM4D in pterygium was higher than that in normal conjunctiva. KDM4D increased the cell viability of pterygium fibroblasts. The differentially expressed genes identified in the LM-MS assay enriched in "actin filament organization" and "apoptosis." KDM4D promoted migration and inhibited apoptosis of pterygium fibroblasts in vitro. Inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8, enhanced the expression of KDM4D in pterygium fibroblasts. LBP inhibited the expression of KDM4D in pterygium fibroblasts and decreased their cell viability. Moreover, LBP attenuated the KDM4D effects on migration and apoptosis of pterygium fibroblasts. Conclusions: Elevated KDM4D expression is a risk factor for pterygium formation. LBP inhibits the expression of KDM4D in pterygium fibroblasts and may be a potential drug for delaying pterygium development.

Periprosthetic hip infections caused by Brucella: a rare case report and literature review.

Periprosthetic hip infection caused by Brucella abortus is rare and only a few cases have been reported. This current case report presents a case of a man in his early 50s who developed periprosthetic hip infection 2 years after right hip arthroplasty. There was no fever or pain, the usual cardinal signs of infection, except for a sinus tract at the previous surgical incision. Laboratory and arthrocentesis culture examinations (done twice) confirmed infection with B. abortus. Accordingly, a two-stage revision surgery was performed accompanied by antibiotic treatment with doxycycline and rifampicin after each stage. There was no recurrence at the 2-year follow-up, with good functional recovery of the hip joint. Clinically, this case serves to highlight the fact that periprosthetic hip infections caused by B. abortus might not present with the typical symptoms such as fever or hip pain. Furthermore, this current case involved a chronic sinus tract, so the diagnostic and therapeutic course of this case offers useful insights for managing similar cases in the future. In addition, a review of the literature on the diagnosis and treatment of Brucella-caused periprosthetic hip infection is presented.

Assessment of dynamic corneal response parameters in Chinese patients of different ages with myopia and orthokeratology lenses using the Corvis ST.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of orthokeratology lenses (OK lenses) on corneal biomechanics in subjects of different ages. METHODS: Fifty subjects with mild to moderate myopia were categorized into three groups (Group I-III) based on their age. Corvis ST was used to collect dynamic corneal response parameters (DCRs) at different follow-up time points. Repeated measures analysis of variance combined with simple effect analysis was used to analyze the changes in DCRs in different groups during the follow-up period. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the correlations between axial length growth (ALG) at 6 months (ALG-6M) or 12 months (ALG-12M) and sex, baseline spherical equivalent refraction (SER), and DCRs. RESULTS: The DCRs changed in all three groups after wearing OK lenses. Most DCRs showed significant differences between baseline and 6 months after wearing OK lenses, while the differences between DCRs at 6 months and 12 months were not statistically significant. No significant differences in DCRs were observed among the three groups at the same follow-up time point. Additionally, at 6 months post-OK lens wear, ALG-6M was significantly correlated with velocity of the corneal apex at the first applanation (A1V-6M) (P = 0.002), Corvis biomechanical index (CBI-6M) (P = 0.004), the maximum amount of corneal movement (DAM-6M) (P = 0.010), deformation amplitude ratio of 2 mm (DAR2-6M) (P = 0.010), and stress-strain index (SSI-6M) (P = 0.038) in Group I. Furthermore, ALG-12M showed significant correlations with SSI-6M (P = 0.031), peak distance at the DAM (PD)-6M (P = 0.037), baseline Ambrósio Relational Thickness to the horizontal profile (P = 0.013) in Group I. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of DCRs displayed significant changes within the initial 6 months of OK lens wear. Minimal variation in DCRs was observed across different age groups at the same follow-up time point. Certain DCR parameters exhibited correlations with ALG, suggesting their potential in predicting ALG in myopic children undergoing OK lenses correction.

Effects of admission hyperglycemia and intravenous thrombolysis allocation in acute basilar artery occlusion after endovascular treatment: Analysis of the ATTENTION registry.

This study was to investigate the admission hyperglycemia and modified effect of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) on clinical outcomes in acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) patients receiving endovascular treatment (EVT). We prospectively recruited acute BAO patients from 48 stroke centers across 22 Chinese provinces in the ATTENTION registry from 2017 to 2021. Hyperglycemia on admission was defined as glucose ≥7.8 â€‹mmol/L. We performed multivariable logistic regression analysis to evaluate the correlation of hyperglycemia on admission with the primary outcome defined as a modified Rankin scale (mRS) score of <4 â€‹at 90 days, and the secondary outcomes defined as successful recanalization, mRS 0-1 and 0-2 â€‹at 90 days. Safety outcomes were symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and mortality within 90 days. There were 1195 patients with acute BAO treated with EVT of whom 519 had hyperglycemia on admission. Hyperglycemia on admission was inversely associated with favorable neurological outcomes (mRS 0-3: adjusted odd ratio [aOR] 0.69, 95 â€‹% confidence intervals [CI] 0.54-0.89, P â€‹= â€‹0.004; mRS 0-1: aOR 0.67, 95 â€‹% CI 0.50-0.90, P â€‹= â€‹0.008; mRS 0-2: aOR 0.73, 95 â€‹% CI 0.56-0.95; P â€‹= â€‹0.02). Hyperglycemia on admission was not correlated to sICH nor successful recanalization. In the subgroup of BAO patients treated with direct EVT, those with hyperglycemia on admission had a higher mortality rate, and overall worse clinical outcomes at 90 days than patients without hyperglycemia. A significant interaction was observed between IVT and hyperglycemia on admission (Pinteraction â€‹= â€‹0.017). In patients with acute BAO treated with EVT, hyperglycemia on admission was associated with worse functional outcomes at 90 days but was not correlated with sICH nor successful recanalization. The effect of admission hyperglycemia appears to be modified by IVT allocation. Unique identifier: ChiCTR2000041117.

[Comparative study of orthopaedic robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery and open surgery for limb osteoid osteoma].

Objective: To compare the accuracy and effectiveness of orthopaedic robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery versus open surgery for limb osteoid osteoma. Methods: A clinical data of 36 patients with limb osteoid osteomas admitted between June 2016 and June 2023 was retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 16 patients underwent orthopaedic robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery (robot-assisted surgery group), and 20 patients underwent tumor resection after lotcated by C-arm X-ray fluoroscopy (open surgery group). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the gender, age, lesion site, tumor nidus diameter, and preoperative pain visual analogue scale (VAS) scores ( P>0.05). The operation time, lesion resection time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, lesion resection accuracy, and postoperative analgesic use frequency were recorded and compared between the two groups. The VAS scores for pain severity were compared preoperatively and at 3 days and 3 months postoperatively. Results: Compared with the open surgery group, the robot-assisted surgery group had a longer operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, less fluoroscopy frequency, less postoperative analgesic use frequency, and higher lesion resection accuracy ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in lesion resection time ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up after surgery, with a follow-up period of 3-24 months (median, 12 months) in the two groups. No postoperative complication such as wound infection or fracture occurred in either group during follow-up. No tumor recurrence was observed during follow-up. The VAS scores significantly improved in both groups at 3 days and 3 months after surgery when compared with preoperative value ( P<0.05). The VAS score at 3 days after surgery was significantly lower in robot-assisted surgery group than that in open surgery group ( P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in VAS scores at 3 months between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion: Compared with open surgery, robot-assisted resection of limb osteoid osteomas has longer operation time, but the accuracy of lesion resection improve, intraoperative blood loss reduce, and early postoperative pain is lighter. It has the advantages of precision and minimally invasive surgery.

Evaluation of the Robustness Verification of Downstream Production Process for Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine and Different Chromatography Medium Purification Effects.

BACKGROUND: Large-scale vaccine production requires downstream processing that focuses on robustness, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. METHODS: To assess the robustness of the current vaccine production process, three batches of COVID-19 Omicron BA.1 strain hydrolytic concentrated solutions were selected. Four gel filtration chromatography media (Chromstar 6FF, Singarose FF, Bestarose 6B, and Focurose 6FF) and four ion exchange chromatography media (Maxtar Q, Q Singarose, Diamond Q, and Q Focurose) were used to evaluate their impact on vaccine purification. The quality of the vaccine was assessed by analyzing total protein content, antigen content, residual Vero cell DNA, residual Vero cell protein, and residual bovine serum albumin (BSA). Antigen recovery rate and specific activity were also calculated. Statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate process robustness and the purification effects of the chromatography media. RESULTS: The statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in antigen recovery (p = 0.10), Vero HCP residue (p = 0.59), Vero DNA residue (p = 0.28), and BSA residue (p = 0.97) among the three batches of hydrolytic concentrated solutions processed according to the current method. However, a significant difference (p < 0.001) was observed in antigen content. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated the remarkable robustness of the current downstream process for producing WIBP-CorV vaccines. This process can adapt to different batches of hydrolytic concentrated solutions and various chromatography media. The research is crucial for the production of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and provides a potential template for purifying other viruses.

Quantitative assessment of hyperperfusion using arterial spin labeling to predict hemorrhagic transformation in acute ischemic stroke patients with mechanical endovascular therapy.

OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to quantitatively assess hyperperfusion using arterial spin labeling (ASL) to predict hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. METHODS: This study enrolled 98 AIS patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion within 24 h of symptom onset. ASL was performed before mechanical endovascular therapy. On pre-treatment ASL maps, a region with relative cerebral blood flow (CBF) ≥ 1.4 was defined as an area of hyperperfusion. The maximum CBF (CBFmax) of hyperperfusion was calculated for each patient. A non-contrast CT scan was performed during the subacute phase for the evaluation of HT. Good clinical outcome was defined as a 90-day modified Rankin scale score of 0-2. RESULTS: The CBFmax of hyperperfusion (odds ratio, 1.023; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.005-1.042; p = 0.012) was an independent risk factor for the status of HT. The CBFmax of hyperperfusion for HT showed an area under the curve of 0.735 (95% CI, 0.588-0.882) with optimal cutoff value, sensitivity, and specificity being 146.5 mL/100 g/min, 76.9%, and 69.6%, respectively. There was a statistically significant relationship between HT grades (from no HT to PH2) and CBFmax of hyperperfusion with a Spearman rank correlation of 0.446 (p = 0.001). In addition, low CBFmax of hyperperfusion were associated with good functional outcome (95% CI, 17.130-73.910; p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: High CBFmax of hyperperfusion was independently associated with subsequent HT and low CBFmax of hyperperfusion linked to good functional outcome. There was a positive correlation between HT grade and CBFmax. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Arterial spin labeling is a noninvasive and contrast agent-independent technique, which is sensitive in detecting hyperperfusion. This study shows that the cerebral blood flow of hyperperfusion is associated with clinical prognosis, which will benefit more patients. KEY POINTS: • Quantitative assessment of hyperperfusion using pre-treatment arterial spin labeling to predict hemorrhagic transformation and prognosis in acute ischemic stroke patients. • The maximum cerebral blood flow of hyperperfusion was associated with hemorrhagic transformation and clinical prognosis and higher maximum cerebral blood flow of hyperperfusion was associated with higher grade hemorrhagic transformation. • The maximum cerebral blood flow of hyperperfusion can predict hemorrhagic transformation which enables timely intervention to prevent parenchymal hematoma.

Platelet to albumin ratio: A risk factor related to prognosis in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCAD) is recognized as a chronic subclinical systemic inflammatory condition. The platelet-albumin ratio (PAR) has shown promise in prognosticating various inflammation-related disorders. Our study aimed to assess the connection between PAR and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-treated patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). METHODS: PAR, derived from platelet and albumin counts, categorized participants into four quartiles. The primary outcome was composite MACE, encompassing all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and ischemia-driven revascularization. Secondary outcomes comprised individual MACE components. Multivariate Cox regression evaluated PAR's independent impact on adverse events. The non-linear relationship between the PAR value and MACE was explored using a restricted cubic spline (RCS). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Subgroup analysis was used to determine the effect of PAR on MACE in different subgroups. RESULTS: Enrolling 1391 NSTE-ACS patients, high PAR quartiles were correlated with elevated MACE rates (quartile 4 vs. quartile 1: 33.5% vs. 10.2%, p < 0.001). PAR was revealed to be independently related to an increased risk of MACE (quartile 4 vs. quartile 1: HR, 2.04 [95% CI, 1.34-3.08], p = 0.001). RCS indicated a positive PAR-MACE relationship. The AUC of PAR for the 3-year MACE was 0.659 (95% CI: 0.626-0.677, P<0.001). Subgroup analysis showed no significant interactions across subsets. CONCLUSION: PAR independently predicted MACE risk in PCI-treated NSTE-ACS patients.

[Regularity of prescriptions for sick sinus syndrome based on latent structure combined with association rules].

This study aims to mine the regularity of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) prescriptions for sick sinus syndrome(SSS) and provide a reference for clinical syndrome differentiation and treatment. The relevant papers were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and SinoMed with the time interval from inception to January 31, 2023. The relevant information from qualified papers was extracted to establish a library. Lantern 5.0 and Rstudio were used to analyze the latent structure and association rules of TCMs with the frequency ≥3%, which combined with frequency descriptions, were used to explore the rules of TCM prescriptions for SSS. A total of 192 TCM prescriptions were included, involving 115 TCMs with the cumulative frequency of 1 816. High-frequency TCMs include Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Astragali Radix, and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. The high-frequency medicines mainly had the effects of tonifying, releasing exterior with pungent-warm, and activating blood and resolving stasis. The analysis of the latent structure model yielded 13 hidden variables, 26 hidden classes, 8 comprehensive cluster models, and 21 core prescriptions. Accordingly, the common syndromes of SSS were inferred as heart-Yang Qi deficiency, heart-spleen Yang deficiency, heart-kidney Yang deficiency, Yang deficiency and blood stasis, both Qi and Yin deficiency and blood stasis, and Yin and Yang deficiency. The analysis of association rules predicted 30 strong association rules, among which Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma-Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata had the highest support. SSS is a syndrome with Yang deficiency and Qi deficiency as the root causes and cold, phlegm, and stasis as the manifestations. The clinical treatment of SSS should focus on warming Yang and replenishing Qi, which should be supplemented with the therapies of activating blood and resolving stasis, warming interior and dissipating cold, or regulating Qi movement for resolving phlegm according to the patients' syndromes.

Effects of Photobiomodulation Therapy on Hard Tissue Healing in Rat Tooth Extraction Sockets.

Objective: To investigate the effects of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) on hard tissue healing in rat maxillary first molar extraction sockets. Methods: A total of 20 male Wistar rats were used in the study. The right extraction sockets were irradiated with a Ga-Al-As laser (500 mW, 980 nm) for 51.7 J/cm2 every 24 h for 7 days, while the left sockets served as controls. Rats were sacrificed on days 3, 7, 14, and 28 after tooth extraction, and microcomputed tomography (CT) analysis, histopathological evaluation, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were conducted at different time points. Results: Micro-CT analysis showed that the percentage of bone volume/tissue volume (TV) and bone mineral density were significantly higher in the experimental group compared to the control group on day 28 (p < 0.05). Histopathological evaluation revealed that PBMT promoted new bone formation and accelerated bone remodeling. ELISA demonstrated a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase expression in the laser sides on days 7 and 14 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: One application postextraction followed by seven consecutive daily applications of PBMT can effectively promote hard tissue healing in rat maxillary first molar extraction sockets.

The Chains of Ferroptosis Interact in the Whole Progression of Atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis (AS), a category of cardiovascular disease (CVD) that can cause other more severe disabilities, increasingly jeopardizes human health. Owing to its imperceptible and chronic symptoms, it is hard to determine the pathogenesis and precise therapeutics for AS. A novel type of programmed cell death called ferroptosis was discovered in recent years that is distinctively different from other traditional cell death pathways in morphological and biochemical aspects. Characterized by iron overload, redox disequilibrium, and accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides (L-OOH), ferroptosis influences endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and macrophages, as well as inflammation, partaking in the pathology of many cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, stroke, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and heart failure. The mechanisms behind ferroptosis are so sophisticated and interwoven that many molecules involved in this procedure are unknown. This review systematically depicts the initiation and modulation of ferroptosis and summarizes the contribution of ferroptosis to AS, which may open a feasible approach for target treatment in the alleviation of AS progression.