Room-Temperature Polariton Lasing from CdSe Core-Only Nanoplatelets.

This paper reports how CdSe core-only nanoplatelets (NPLs) coupled with plasmonic Al nanoparticle lattices can exhibit exciton-polariton lasing. By improving a procedure to synthesize monodisperse 4-monolayer CdSe NPLs, we could resolve polariton decay dynamics and pathways. Experiment and theory confirmed that the system is in the strong coupling regime based on anticrossings in the dispersion diagrams and magnitude of the Rabi-splitting values. Notably, polariton lasing is observed only for cavity lattice periodicities that exhibit specific dispersive characteristics that enable polariton accumulation. The threshold of polariton lasing is 25-fold lower than the reported photon lasing values from CdSe NPLs in similar cavity designs. This open-cavity platform offers a simple approach to control exciton polaritons anticipated to benefit quantum information processing, optoelectronics, and chemical reactions.

Prognostic Nutritional Index as a Prognostic Factor for Very Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Field factors play more important roles in predicting the outcomes of patients compared with tumor factors in early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the prognostic ability of noninvasive serum marker scores for hepatic fibrosis and liver functional reserve on very early-stage HCC is still not yet determined. We aimed to investigate the performance of these serum marker scores in predicting the prognoses of patients with very early-stage HCC. METHODS: A total of 446 patients with very early-stage HCC from 2012 to 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. Serum biomarkers and prognostic scores determining overall survival (OS) were analyzed by Cox proportional hazards model. We compared the Akaike information criterion among the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index, albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score, EZ (easy)-ALBI score, modified ALBI score, fibrosis-4 score, and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio to determine the predictability on the OS. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 41.0 months (interquartile range 36.9-45.1 months), 81 patients died, with a 5-year OS rate of 71.0%. Among the noninvasive serum marker scores, PNI had the best performance in predicting the OS with the lowest Akaike information criterion (846.407) compared with other scores. Moreover, we stratified the patients into high-risk (PNI <45) and low-risk (PNI ≥45) groups. It showed that the 5-year OS rates were 83.4% and 60.8% in the low-risk and high-risk PNI groups, respectively ( P < 0.001). DISCUSSION: PNI had the best performance in predicting the OS for patients with very early-stage HCC.

Risk of placenta accreta spectrum following myomectomy: a nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Whether myomectomy increases the risk of placenta accreta spectrum in the following pregnancies remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of myomectomy on the risk of placenta accreta spectrum in the following pregnancies. Moreover, different methods of myomectomy on the risk of placenta accreta spectrum were explored. STUDY DESIGN: A nationwide cohort study was conducted using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, including all pregnant patients in Taiwan who gave birth between January 2008 and December 2017. A 1:1 propensity score estimation matching was performed for the analysis of myomectomy on the risk of placenta accreta spectrum. Among pregnant patients who received myomectomy, different methods of myomectomy on the risk of placenta accreta spectrum were compared with the control group. RESULTS: Among the 1,371,458 pregnant patients in this study, 11,255 pregnant patients had a history of myomectomy. The risk of placenta accreta spectrum was higher in pregnant patients with a history of myomectomy than in pregnant patients without a history of myomectomy (incidence: 0.96% vs 0.20%; adjusted odds ratio, 2.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.85-2.81; P<.01). Among pregnant patients with a history of myomectomy, 5045 (46.87%) received laparotomic myomectomy, 3973 (36.93%) received laparoscopic myomectomy, and 1742 (16.20%) received hysteroscopic myomectomy. The incidence of placenta accreta spectrum was higher in the hysteroscopic group than in the laparotomic group or the laparoscopic group (1.89% [hysteroscopic group] vs 0.71% [laparotomic group] and 0.81% [laparoscopic group]; P<.05). Compared with patients without a history of myomectomy, the adjusted odds ratio for placenta accreta spectrum was 3.88 (95% confidence interval, 2.68-5.63; P<.05) in the hysteroscopic group. CONCLUSION: Myomectomy, especially hysteroscopic myomectomy, is associated with an increased risk of placenta accreta spectrum in the subsequent pregnancy.

Diallyl disulfide downregulating RhoGDI2 induces differentiation and inhibit invasion via the Rac1/Pak1/LIMK1 pathway in human leukemia HL-60 cells.

Leukemia is a type of disease in which hematopoietic stem cells proliferate clonally at the genetic level. We discovered previously by high-resolution mass spectrometry that diallyl disulfide (DADS), which is one of the effective ingredients of garlic, reduces the performance of RhoGDI2 from APL HL-60 cells. Although RhoGDI2 is oversubscribed in several cancer categories, the effect of RhoGDI2 in HL-60 cells has remained unexplained. We aimed to investigate the influence of RhoGDI2 on DADS-induced differentiation of HL-60 cells to elucidate the association among the effect of inhibition or over-expression of RhoGDI2 with HL-60 cell polarization, migration and invasion, which is important for establishing a novel generation of inducers to elicit leukemia cell polarization. Co-transfection with RhoGDI2-targeted miRNAs apparently decreases the malignant biological behavior of cells and upregulates cytopenias in DADS-treated HL-60 cell lines, which increases CD11b and decreases CD33 and mRNA levels of Rac1, PAK1 and LIMK1. Meanwhile, we generated HL-60 cell lines with high-expressing RhoGDI2. The proliferation, migration and invasion capacity of such cells were significantly increased by the treated with DADS, while the reduction capacity of the cells was decreased. There was a reduction in CD11b and an increase in CD33 production, as well as an increase in the mRNA levels of Rac1, PAK1 and LIMK1. It also confirmed that inhibition of RhoGDI2 attenuates the EMT cascade via the Rac1/Pak1/LIMK1 pathway, thereby inhibiting the malignant biological behavior of HL-60 cells. Thus, we considered that inhibition of RhoGDI2 expression might be a new therapeutic direction for the treatment of human promyelocytic leukemia. The anti-cancer property of DADS against HL-60 leukemia cells might be regulated by RhoGDI2 through the Rac1-Pak1-LIMK1 pathway, which provides new evidence for DADS as a clinical anti-cancer medicine.

Empagliflozin cardiovascular and renal effectiveness and safety compared to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors across 11 countries in Europe and Asia: Results from the EMPagliflozin compaRative effectIveness and SafEty (EMPRISE) study.

BACKGROUND: Continued expansion of indications for sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors increases importance of evaluating cardiovascular and kidney efficacy and safety of empagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to similar therapies. METHODS: The EMPRISE Europe and Asia study is a non-interventional cohort study using data from 2014-2019 in seven European (Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom) and four Asian (Israel, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan) countries. Patients with type 2 diabetes initiating empagliflozin were 1:1 propensity score matched to patients initiating dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors. Primary endpoints included hospitalization for heart failure, all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction and stroke. Other cardiovascular, renal, and safety outcomes were examined. FINDINGS: Among 83,946 matched patient pairs, (0·7 years overall mean follow-up time), initiation of empagliflozin was associated with lower risk of hospitalization for heart failure compared to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (Hazard Ratio 0·70; 95% CI 0.60 to 0.83). Risks of all-cause mortality (0·55; 0·48 to 0·63), stroke (0·82; 0·71 to 0·96), and end-stage renal disease (0·43; 0·30 to 0·63) were lower and risk for myocardial infarction, bone fracture, severe hypoglycemia, and lower-limb amputation were similar between initiators of empagliflozin and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors. Initiation of empagliflozin was associated with higher risk for diabetic ketoacidosis (1·97; 1·28 to 3·03) compared to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors. Results were consistent across continents and regions. INTERPRETATION: Results from this EMPRISE Europe and Asia study complements previous clinical trials and real-world studies by providing further evidence of the beneficial cardiorenal effects and overall safety of empagliflozin compared to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors.

Sarcopenia-related gut microbial changes are associated with the risk of complications in people with cirrhosis.

Background & Aims: Sarcopenia and gut dysbiosis are common in individuals with cirrhosis. However, the association between sarcopenia and microbial alterations, and the subsequent impact on cirrhotic outcomes are poorly understood. This study aimed to identify muscle-dependent microbial changes and related risks of cirrhotic complications. Methods: From September 2018 to December 2020, 89 individuals with cirrhosis and 16 healthy volunteers were prospectively enrolled. Muscle and nutritional status, serum amino acids, and fecal microbiota were analyzed. The association between microbial signatures of sarcopenia and cirrhotic complications was investigated. Results: A decline in muscle mass and strength were associated with gut microbial alterations in individuals with cirrhosis. The greatest microbial dissimilarity was observed between those with sarcopenia (both decline in muscle mass and strength) and those with normal-muscle status (p = 0.035). Individuals with sarcopenia had lower serum levels of alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, tryptophan and ornithine. Besides, gut microbial functions associated with amino acid biosynthesis were significantly reduced in individuals with sarcopenia and cirrhosis. Depletion of Dialister, Ruminococcus 2, and Anaerostipes were associated with cirrhotic sarcopenia, and significantly correlated with the serum levels of amino acids. Individuals with coexistent depletion of Ruminococcus 2 and Anaerostipes developed more infectious (44.4% vs. 3.0%) and non-infectious (74.1% vs. 3.0%) complications, and more hospitalizations (54 vs. 3) than those with cirrhosis with good microbial signatures (all p <0.001). In contrast, fecal enrichment of Ruminococcus 2 and Anaerostipes independently decreased the risk of 1-year complications. Conclusions: Sarcopenia-related fecal microbial alterations are associated with cirrhotic complications. These findings may facilitate measures to improve the outcomes of individuals with cirrhosis and sarcopenia by modifying gut microbiota. Impact and implications: The composition and biosynthetic functions of gut microbiota are significantly changed in individuals with sarcopenic cirrhosis. Those with a sarcopenia-related poor microbial signature, in which Ruminococcus 2 and Anaerostipes were both depleted, had significantly more infectious and non-infectious complications, as well as more hospitalizations. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of modifying the gut microbiota of individuals with sarcopenic cirrhosis to improve their clinical outcomes.

Effect of repeated Shengmai-San administration on nifedipine pharmacokinetics and the risk/benefit under co-treatment.

Herbal interactions with nifedipine/felodipine through cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A inhibition is significant in humans. Shengmai-San (SMS), a three-herbal formula of Chinese medicine, is commonly prescribed in Asia populations for cardiovascular disorders. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of SMS on nifedipine/felodipine treatment by the findings from rat pharmacokinetic study of nifedipine to the retrospective cohort study of patients with hypertension. The 3-week SMS treatment increased the systemic exposure to nifedipine by nearly two-fold and decreased nifedipine clearance by 39% in rats. Among the ingredients of SMS component herbs, schisandrin B, schisantherin A, and methylophiopogonanone A, inhibited the nifedipine oxidation (NFO) activities of rat hepatic and intestinal microsomes, as well as human CYP3A4. Methylophiopogonanone A was identified as a time-dependent inhibitor of CYP3A4. After 1:5 propensity score matching, 4,894 patients with nifedipine/felodipine use were analyzed. In patients receiving nifedipine/felodipine, the subgroup with concurrent SMS treatment had a higher incidence of headache (92.70 per 1,000 personyears) than the subgroup without SMS treatment (51.10 per 1,000 person-years). There was a positive association between headache incidence and cumulative doses of SMS (1-60 g SMS: hazard ratio (HR): 1.39; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-1.74; >60 g SMS: HR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.62-2.39; p < 0.0001). However, patients who had higher cumulative SMS doses had a lower risk of all-cause mortality (1-60 g SMS: HR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.47-0.94; >60 g SMS: HR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.37-0.79; p = 0.001). Results demonstrated increased rat plasma nifedipine levels after 3-week SMS treatment and increased headache incidence should be noted in nifedipine/felodipine-treated patients with prolonged SMS administration.

Empirical food webs of 12 tropical reservoirs in Singapore.

Background: Food webs summarise trophic interactions of the biotic components within an ecosystem, which can influence nutrient dynamics and energy flows, ultimately affecting ecosystem functions and services. Food webs represent the hypothesised trophic links between predators and prey and can be presented as empirical food webs, in which the relative strength/importance of the respective links are quantified. Some common methods used in food web research include gut content analysis (GCA) and stable isotope analysis (SIA). We combine both methods to construct empirical food web models as a basis for monitoring and studying ecosystem-level outcomes of natural (e.g. species turnover in fish assemblage) and intentional environmental change (e.g. biomanipulation). New information: We present 12 food webs from tropical reservoir communities in Singapore and summarise the topology of each with widely-used network indices (e.g. connectance, link density). Each reservoir was surveyed over 4-6 sampling occasions, during which, representative animal groups (i.e. fish species and taxonomic/functional groups of zooplankton and benthic macroinvertebrates) and all likely sources of primary production (i.e. macrophytes, periphyton, phytoplankton and riparian terrestrial plants) were collected. We analysed gut content in fishes and bulk isotope (d13C and d15N) profiles of all animals (i.e. fishes and invertebrates) and plants collected. Both sets of information were used to estimate the relative strength of trophic relationships using Bayesian mixing models. We document our protocol here, alongside a script in the R programming language for executing data management/analyses/visualisation procedures used in our study. These data can be used to glean insights into trends in inter- and intra-specific or guild interactions in analogous freshwater lake habitats.

Molecular Imaging of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms with Positron Emission Tomography: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies on the relationship between positron emission tomography (PET) images and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression have shown contradictory results, and the objective of this study was to systematically review the role of PET in predicting AAA prognosis. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for studies evaluating the correlation between PET imaging results and AAA growth, repair, or rupture. REVIEW METHODS: Two authors independently performed the study search, data extraction, and quality assessment following a standard method. RESULTS: Of the 11 studies included in this review, nine used 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET and computed tomography (CT) imaging, whereas the remaining two used 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) PET/CT and 18F-FDG PET/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Findings from the 18F-FDG PET/CT studies were contradictory. Six studies found no significant association or correlation, and two studies found a significant negative correlation between 18F-FDG uptake and AAA expansion. Additionally, one study found that the 18F-FDG uptake was statistically positively related to the expansion rate in a specific AAA subgroup whose AAAs expanded significantly. Two studies suggested that increased 18F-FDG uptake was significantly associated with AAA repair, while the other studies either found no association between 18F-FDG uptake and AAA rupture or repair or failed to report the occurrence of clinical events. One PET/CT study that used 18F-NaF as a tracer showed that an increased tracer uptake was significantly associated with AAA growth and clinical events. Finally, the 18F-FDG PET/MRI study indicated that 18F-FDG uptake was not significantly correlated with AAA expansion. CONCLUSION: A definitive role for 18F-FDG PET imaging for AAA prognosis awaits further investigation, and new PET tracers such as 18F-NaF have the potential to be a promising method for predicting AAA clinical outcomes.

Molecular Disorder Induces an Unusual Phase Transition in a Potential 2D Chiral Ferroelectric Perovskite.

Two-dimensional hybrid halide perovskites with single chiral and ferroelectricity together with various structural phase transitions provide the possibility for more diverse functional properties. Here, we present a 2D chiral hybrid halide perovskite ferroelectric, [C6 H5 (CH2 )4 NH3 ]2 CdCl4 (4PBA-CdCl4 , 4PBA=4-phenylbutylamine) that experiences two continuous phase transitions from centrosymmetric triclinic P 1 ‾ to polar chiral monoclinic P2 and then to another centrosymmetric tetragonal P4/mmm with increasing temperature, accompanied by symmetry breaking, due to the prominent octahedral distortion and disorder transformation of organic 4PBA cations. In the polar chiral phase, 4PBA-CdCl4 gives a significant CD signal and has a moderate ferroelectric polarization of 0.35 µC/cm2 . In addition, 4PBA-CdCl4 occupies a wide band gap of 4.376 eV that is chiefly contributed by the inorganic CdCl6 octahedron. This finding offers an alternative pathway for designing new phase transitions and related physical properties in hybrid halide perovskites and other hybrid crystals.

Effects of Shengmai San on key enzymes involved in hepatic and intestinal drug metabolism in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Shengmai San (SMS) has been commonly used as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders, of which drug interactions need to be assessed for the safety concern. There is little evidence for the alterations of hepatic and intestinal drug-metabolizing enzymes after repeated SMS treatments to assess drug interactions. AIM OF THE STUDY: The studies aim to illustrate the effects of repeated treatments with SMS on cytochrome P450s (CYPs), reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate)-quinone oxidoreductase (NQO), uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) using in vivo rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The SMS was prepared using Schisandrae Fructus, Ginseng Radix, and Ophiopogonis Radix (OR) (1:2:2). Chromatographic analyses of decoctions were performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and LC-mass spectrometry. Sprague-Dawley rats were orally treated with the SMS and its component herbal decoctions for 2 or 3 weeks. Hepatic and intestinal enzyme activities were determined. CYP3A expression and the kinetics of intestinal nifedipine oxidation (NFO, a CYP3A marker reaction) were determined. RESULTS: Schisandrol A, schisandrin B, ginsenoside Rb1 and ophiopogonin D were identified in SMS. SMS selectively suppressed intestinal, but not hepatic, NFO activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Hepatic and intestinal UGT, NQO and GST activities were not affected. A 3-week SMS treatment decreased the maximal velocity of intestinal NFO by 50%, while the CYP3A protein level remained unchanged. Among SMS component herbs, the decoction of OR decreased intestinal NFO activity. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that 3-week treatment with SMS and OR suppress intestinal, but not hepatic CYP3A function. It suggested that the potential interactions of SMS with CYP 3A drug substrates should be noticed, especially the drugs whose bioavailability depends heavily on intestinal CYP3A.

Matrix metalloproteinases activation in Toxocara canis induced pulmonary pathogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Toxocara canis, a source of visceral larva migrans, causes toxocariasis and induces respiratory symptoms. The reasons by which the pulmonary pathological alteration in the lungs infected with T. canis remain unclear. METHODS: The involvement of the pulmonary pathological alteration by histology, enzyme activity, and Western blot analysis in the lungs of BALB/c mice after the infection of 2000 embryonated eggs. RESULTS: The pathological effects gradually increased after the infection culminated in severe leukocyte infiltration and hemorrhage from days 4-14 post-inoculation. Gelatin zymography using substrate showed that the relative activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -9 and MMP-2 significantly increased in T. canis-infected mice. Western blot analysis indicated that the MMPs protein level of fibronectin monomer significantly increased in T. canis-infected mice compared with that in uninfected control. T. canis larvae mainly initiated leukocyte infiltration and hemorrhage in the lungs. CONCLUSION: These phenomena subsequently induced the activities of MMPs in parallel with the pathological changes in early stage pulmonary inflammation. In conclusion, T. canis larval migration activated the MMPs and caused pulmonary pathogenesis.

Cellular context of IL-33 expression dictates impact on anti-helminth immunity.

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a pleiotropic cytokine that can promote type 2 inflammation but also drives immunoregulation through Foxp3+Treg expansion. How IL-33 is exported from cells to serve this dual role in immunosuppression and inflammation remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the biological consequences of IL-33 activity are dictated by its cellular source. Whereas IL-33 derived from epithelial cells stimulates group 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2)-driven type 2 immunity and parasite clearance, we report that IL-33 derived from myeloid antigen-presenting cells (APCs) suppresses host-protective inflammatory responses. Conditional deletion of IL-33 in CD11c-expressing cells resulted in lowered numbers of intestinal Foxp3+Treg cells that express the transcription factor GATA3 and the IL-33 receptor ST2, causing elevated IL-5 and IL-13 production and accelerated anti-helminth immunity. We demonstrate that cell-intrinsic IL-33 promoted mouse dendritic cells (DCs) to express the pore-forming protein perforin-2, which may function as a conduit on the plasma membrane facilitating IL-33 export. Lack of perforin-2 in DCs blocked the proliferative expansion of the ST2+Foxp3+Treg subset. We propose that perforin-2 can provide a plasma membrane conduit in DCs that promotes the export of IL-33, contributing to mucosal immunoregulation under steady-state and infectious conditions.

Utilization of different dissolved organic phosphorus sources by Symbiodinium voratum in vitro.

This study examines the physiological responses of the Symbiodiniumvoratum (clade E) to two types of phosphates having different chemical bonds-phosphoesters (C-O-P bonds) and phosphonates (C-P bonds) to explore Symbiodinium cell growth and the molecular perspective of the P utilization process. Alkaline phosphatase (AP), PhnX, PhoA and PhoX expression was profiled for different P conditions using the RT-qPCR method. In a sterile system, Symbiodinium could decompose phosphoesters, such as ATP and glucose 6-phosphate (G-6-P), into dissolved inorganic P (DIP) to supplement inorganic phosphorus but could not directly use phosphoesters for growth. The growth rate and photosynthetic efficiency of zooxanthellae in phosphoester-containing media did not significantly differ from those in the DIP group but were significantly inhibited in medium containing phosphonates such as N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (glyphosate) and 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid (2-AEP), as well as in DIP-poor medium. The phosphonate group DIP concentration did not change remarkably, indicating that phosphonates can neither be directly used by zooxanthellae nor decomposed into DIP. Our RT-qPCR results support our views that the phosphoesters (C-O-P) had been hydrolyzed outside the cell before being absorbed into the Symbiodinium cell, and implies that PhnX, PhoA and PhoX are perhaps responsible for transporting DIP from medium into cells and for storage of DIP.

[Epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria in Chenzhou City, Hunan Province from 2010 to 2017].

OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria in Chenzhou City, Hunan Province, so as to provide the reference for consolidating the malaria elimination and formulating the prevention and control strategies of imported malaria. METHODS: The epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria were statistically analyzed in Chenzhou City from 2010 to 2017. RESULTS: Totally 46 malaria cases, which were all imported, were reported in Chenzhou City from 2010 to 2017, with an average annual incidence of 0.12/105. The reported malaria cases were mainly falciparum malaria, accounting for 60.87% of the total number of cases. There was no obvious seasonal distribution of malaria cases, but the top of reported cases were in June. Totally 73.91% of malaria cases were concentrated in Beihu District, Suxian District, Guiyang County and Zixing City. These cases were mainly the young and middle-aged and 69.57% of the cases were from 36 to 60 years old. There was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of malaria patients among the age groups (χ2 = 47.80, P < 0.01). The median time from onset to diagnosis was 6 days, and the case confirmed institutions were dominated by municipal and above medical institutions, accounting for 52.17% of the total number of cases. There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of confirmed cases among medical and health institutions at all levels ( χ2 = 41.96, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The importation of malaria in Chenzhou City is still severe. The awareness of malaria diagnosis and treatment in primary medical institutions, malaria patients' serum tests, and the health education of malaria control and prevention knowledge should be strengthened to consolidate the malaria elimination results.

Proton Pump Inhibitors and Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B or C.

Researchers have hypothesized that the long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can increase the risk of developing cancer. However, the association between PPI use and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk is unclear. Using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database for the period between 2003 and 2013, we identified 35,356 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. One-to-one propensity score matching by gender, age, cohort entry year, comorbidity, and medication resulted in the inclusion of 7,492 pairs of patients (PPI users and non-PPI users) for analyses. We performed multivariate and stratified analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models in order to estimate the association between PPI use and the risk of developing HCC. In the HBV cohort, 237 patients developed HCC during a median follow-up of 53 months. However, PPI use was not associated with an increased risk of developing HCC (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90-1.73; P = 0.18). In the HCV cohort, 211 patients developed HCC; but again, PPI use was not associated with an increase in the risk of developing HCC (aHR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.88-1.61; P = 0.25). We observed no relationship between a dose-dependent effect of PPI use and HCC risk. Subgroup analysis also confirmed that PPI use was not correlated to an increased HCC risk. Conclusion: Based on a retrospective population-based cohort study throughout Taiwan, where the prescription of PPI is tightly regulated, PPI use is not associated with the risk of developing HCC among patients with chronic HBV or HCV infections.

Novel diagnostics for point-of-care bacterial detection and identification.

In addition to limiting the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health concern as it is responsible for significant mortality/morbidity and increased economic burdens on healthcare systems. Diagnostic tests have been suggested as a means of prolonging the effectiveness of current antimicrobials; culture and other conventional diagnostics are hindered in their practicality as they are time- and labour intensive to perform. Point-of-care (POC) testing is performed near where the patient is being treated and can provide timely results that allow evidence based clinical interventions to be made. This review aims to outline the chemical principles behind some novel and emerging diagnostic techniques which have the required speed, simplicity, effectiveness and low-cost for incorporation into POC devices which can be used to inform and optimize antimicrobial use.

Association between screen time and body mass index among university students / Associação entre tempo de tela e índice de massa corporal entre estudantes universitários

AIMS: Screen time has been proven to be associated with overweight and obesity among pediatric. However, the relationship between these two variables has not been confirmed among university students in Malaysia who are having increasing screen time. Hence, this study is conducted to examine the association between screen time and body mass index (BMI) among university students. METHODS: A total of 390 university students (female=236, male=154) with a mean age of 20.17 years old were involved in this study. They completed the Screen Time Based Sedentary Behaviour Questionnaire for total screen time assessment. Body height and weight were measured to calculate body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: Prevalence of overweight and obesity were not high among university students (12.3% and 4.4%). Male subjects have generally higher BMI compared to female subjects. The smartphone was the most common device owned by subjects (33%). The screen time of subjects was high as there were 97.4% of subjects fell under the category of high screen time (>2 hours). However, screen time was not significantly associated with BMI (p=0.36). The only variable which associated with screen time was the devices owned by subjects (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Screen time was not significantly associated with BMI among university students. Future study should include the relationship of other factors on BMI among university students.

OBJETIVOS: Foi demonstrado que o tempo de tela está associado ao sobrepeso e à obesidade nos pacientes pediátricos. No entanto, a relação entre essas duas variáveis não foi confirmada entre estudantes universitários na Malásia, que estão tendo um aumento no tempo de tela. Desse modo, o objetivo desses estudo é avaliar a associação entre tempo de tela e o indice de massa corporal (IMC) entre estudantes universitários. MÉTODOS: Um total de 390 estudantes universitários (sexo feminino=236, masculino=154) com idade média de 20,17 anos foram envolvidos neste estudo. Eles completaram o Questionário de Comportamento Sedentário Baseado no Tempo de Tela para avaliação total do tempo de tela. A altura corporal e o peso foram medidos para calcular o índice de massa corporal (IMC). RESULTADOS: A prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade não foi alta entre os universitários (12,3% e 4,4%). Indivíduos do sexo masculino têm geralmente um IMC mais alto em comparação com indivíduos do sexo feminino. O smartphone foi o dispositivo mais comum de propriedade dos sujeitos (33%). O tempo de tela dos participantes foi alto, pois 97,4% dos sujeitos caíram na categoria de tempo de tela alta (>2 horas). No entanto, o tempo de tela não foi significativamente associado ao IMC (p=0,36). A única variável associada ao tempo de tela foram os dispositivos pertencentes aos sujeitos (p=0,001). CONCLUSÕES: O tempo de tela não foi significativamente associado com o IMC entre os estudantes universitários. Estudos futuros devem incluir a relação de outros fatores sobre o IMC entre estudantes universitários.

Annotated checklist of freshwater fishes from Brunei Darussalam, Borneo.

The freshwater fish diversity of Brunei Darussalam is reviewed. At present, a total of 104 species of freshwater fishes from 59 genera, 24 families and 10 orders is recorded. Eight species including one introduced species and two from brackish waters present new records for Brunei. The family Cyprinidae has the highest diversity with 40 species. Forty-six species are believed to be endemic to Borneo including six species known only from Brunei Darussalam namely Barbodes xouthos, Rasbora tubbi, Gastromyzon cranbrookii, Gastromyzon venustus, Neogastromyzon brunei and Ompok platyrhynchus and three are exotics.