Association of in situ thrombus within the patent foramen ovale and patients with migraine: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is associated with migraine; however, the mechanism of PFO-associated migraine is not well known; additionally, percutaneous closure is controversial. This study aimed to investigate in situ thrombi within the PFO and explore the possible predictors of the effectiveness of PFO closure in migraineurs. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 48 asymptomatic patients and 92 migraineurs with PFO. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to evaluate the PFO microstructure. Only migraineurs underwent percutaneous closure. Migraineurs were divided into two cohorts based on the presence of a thrombus within the PFO. The symptoms were assessed at the 12-month follow-up visit. Predictors were evaluated employing multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. Results: In situ thrombi within PFO were identified in 69 migraineurs and in two asymptomatic patients (76.7 % vs. 4.3 %; P < 0.001). Additionally, endocardial irregularity, discontinuity, low signal, and spasm were found in 59 (65.6 %), 15 (16.7 %), 13 (14.4 %), and six (6.7 %) patients, respectively, in the migraine group. In situ thrombus was associated with migraine risk (OR 49.03; 95%CI 8.52-282.18; P < 0.001). At the 12-month follow-up of the migraineur cohort, the primary endpoint, a 50 % reduction in migraine frequency after closure (with or without thrombus in PFO) was met (85.3 % vs. 25.0 %; P < 0.001). In situ thrombus was associated with migraine relief (OR 6.75; 95%CI 1.28-35.56; P = 0.024). Conclusions: In situ thrombus and abnormal endocardium within PFOs were common in migraineurs, and in situ thrombus was a risk factor for migraine. Percutaneous closure was more effective in migraineurs with thrombi within the PFO. OCT imaging improved the understanding of pathogenic PFOs and may be helpful in selecting suitable migraineurs for PFO closure.

Left atrial appendage closure in a patient previously implanted with an interatrial shunt device: a case report.

Patients with previous interatrial shunt device (IASD) implantation may face greater challenges during future left atrial interventional procedures. Herein, we report the first case of left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) in a patient with previous IASD implantation. The patient successfully underwent LAAC using the LAmbre device without complications.

Long-term outcomes in patients with bicuspid valve stenosis and aortic dilation undergoing transcatheter valve implantation.

BACKGROUND: To date, whether ascending aorta dilation (AAD) should be considered a contraindication for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains a topic of debate.. OBJECTIVE: The study investigated the clinical outcome of TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis (BAV-AS) complicated by AAD. METHODS: We included patients with BAV-AS who underwent TAVR between 2012 and 2019. We collected patient perioperative clinical data., tracked clinical outcomes for over four years post-TAVR, and obtained echocardiography images one year postoperatively. The Kaplan-Meier method was employed for analyzing both unadjusted and adjusted survival data, which was compared using the log-rank test. COX regression and nomograms were used to assess the impact of AAD on post-TAVR clinical outcomes in patients with aortic stenosis (AS), with all-cause mortality as the primary clinical endpoint. RESULTS: A total of 111 BAV patients were included in this study. Long-term follow-up showed an increased mortality risk in patients with BAV-AAD (adjusted Kaplan-Meier analysis: P = .02/0.001). Cox correlation analysis indicated that age (OR = 1.137; P = .034), AAD (OR = 3.51; P = .038), and postoperative left ventricular pressure (LVSP) (OR: 0.959; P = .044) were predictive factors for mortality more than four years after TAVR in patients with BAV. The area under the curve of the Nomogram predicting long-term survival for the training set of patients based on the above metrics was 0.845 (95% CI: 0.696-0.994). Short-term cardiac ultrasound follow-up showed a more rapid rate of AA expansion (0.29 [0-0.34] vs. -1 [-3.3-1] mm/month, P = .001) and a smaller proportion of AA diameter reduction (7.1% vs. 53.7%, P = .001) in patients who died. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with BAV-AAD-AS treated with TAVR have an increased risk of long-term mortality, and clinical prediction models, including AAD age and postoperative LVSP, may predict long-term patient survival. CONDENSED ABSTRACT: The study investigated the clinical outcome of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis (BAV-AS) complicated by ascending aorta dilation (AAD). Patients with BAV-AAD-AS treated with TAVR have an increased risk of long-term mortality. AAD, age and postoperative LVSP, may predict long-term patient survival. Short-term cardiac ultrasound follow-up showed a more rapid rate of AA expansion and a smaller proportion of AA diameter reduction in patients who died. A high postoperative AAD expansion rate may indicate an adverse clinical outcome. Surgery regimens for tolerable BAV-AADs and can be considered as a treatment option.

Cross-waveband optical computing imaging.

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, cross-spectral optical computing imaging experiment has been achieved through a single exposure of a charge-coupled device. The experimental setup integrates single-pixel imaging (SPI) with ghost imaging (GI) through a photoelectric conversion circuit and a synchronous modulation system. The experimental process involves modulation in one wavelength band (in SPI) and demodulation using the GI algorithm in another. Significantly, our approach utilizes optical computing demodulation, a departure from the conventional electronic demodulation in GI (SPI), which involves the convolution between the bucket optical signals and the modulated patterns on the digital micromirror device. A proof-of-concept cross-band imaging experiment from near-infrared to visible light has been carried out. The results highlight the system's ability to capture images at up to 20 frames per second using near-infrared illumination, which are then reconstructed in the visible light spectrum. This success not only validates the feasibility of our approach but also expands the potential applications in the SPI or GI fields, particularly in scenarios where two-dimensional detector arrays are either unavailable or prohibitively expensive in certain electromagnetic spectra such as x-ray and terahertz.

Transcatheter Closure of Atrial Septal Defects with Absent Aortic Rim and the Predictors of Right Atrial Reverse Remodeling: 5 Years Experience in China.

INTRODUCTION: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is one of the most common congenital heart malformations. Although not recommended, a significant proportion of patients with aortic root defects receive ASD closure, some of whom have improved right ventricular function. The study aimed to investigate the safety of interventional therapy in ASD patients with complete aortic rim deficiency and explore the predictors of right atrial (RA) non-reverse remodeling. METHODS: 1,011 patients with ASD who underwent transcatheter closure in the Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, affiliated to Fudan University from June 2017 to June 2023 were enrolled in the study. They were divided into a complete aortic rim deficiency group and without absent aortic rim group. Furthermore, patients who had an enlarged RA in the absent aortic rim group were divided into two subgroups according to whether their RA remodeling was reversed post-procedure. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of RA reverse remodeling. RESULTS: During the 1-year follow-up, no major operative complications occurred in all patients with the absence of an aortic rim and a normal edge. After the operation, the right heart remodeling was significantly reversed, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed, and it was found that no coronary heart disease before an operation, lower plasma creatinine level, and larger RA and RV dimensions were the predictive factors for the reverse of RA remodeling after treatment. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter closure of ASD with complete aortic rim deficiency is safe and feasible. For patients without coronary heart disease, the lower the creatinine value and the lower the tricuspid regurgitation before an operation, the more improvement of RA remodeling after the operation.

A thermoresponsive nanocomposite integrates NIR-II-absorbing small molecule with lonidamine for pyroptosis-promoted synergistic immunotherapy.

Photothermal immunotherapy is regarded as the ideal cancer therapeutic modality to against malignant solid tumors; however, its therapeutic benefits are often modest and require improvement. In this study, a thermoresponsive nanoparticle (BTN@LND) composed of a photothermal agent (PTA) and pyroptosis inducer (lonidamine) were developed to enhance immunotherapy applications. Specifically, our "two-step" donor engineering strategy produced the strong NIR-II-absorbing organic small-molecule PTA (BTN) that exhibited high NIR-II photothermal performance (ε1064 = 1.51 × 104 M-1 cm-1, η = 75.8%), and this facilitates the diagnosis and treatment of deep tumor tissue. Moreover, the fabricated thermally responsive lipid nanoplatform based on BTN efficiently delivered lonidamine to the tumor site and achieved spatiotemporal release triggered by the NIR-II photothermal effect. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the NIR-II photothermal therapy (PTT)-mediated on-demand release of cargo effectively faciliated tumor cell pyroptosis, thereby intensifying the immunogenic cell death (ICD) process to promote antitumor immunotherapy. As a result, this intelligent component bearing photothermal and chemotherapy can maximally suppress the growth of tumors, thus providing a promising approach for pyroptosis/NIR-II PTT synergistic therapy against tumors.

Serum VEGF, P-Selectin, HDL-C, Platelet Index, and Coagulation Function Index in Deep Vein Thrombosis after Traumatic Fracture.

BACKGROUND: The goal was to investigate the relationship between serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), P-selectin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), platelet parameters, and coagulation function indexes and postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with traumatic fracture. METHODS: A total of 150 patients with traumatic fractures after DVT were selected as the DVT group, and 150 patients with traumatic fractures without DVT during the same period were selected as the non-DVT group. Serum VEGF, P-selectin, HDL-C, platelet parameters including platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), plateletcrit (PCT), platelet large cell ratio (P-LCR), and plasma coagulation function indexes including thrombin time (TT), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thrombin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB), and D-dimer (D-D) were measured. Pearson's correlation was performed to analyze the correlation between serum VEGF, P-selectin, and coagulation function indexes, and binary logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of DVT. RESULTS: Serum VEGF and P-selectin in the DVT group were higher while HDL-C was lower than those in the non-DVT group (p < 0.05). Serum VEGF and P-selectin were negatively correlated with plasma D-D and FIB (p < 0.05), and serum HDL-C was negatively correlated (p < 0.05). Compared with the non-DVT group, MPV, PDW, and P-LCR in the DVT group were decreased (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that P-LCR was a risk factor for postoperative DVT in patients with traumatic fractures (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum VEGF and P-selectin are higher and HDL-C is lower in patients with DVT after postoperative traumatic fracture than in patients without DVT. Combined detection of serum VEGF, P-selectin, HDL-C, and coagulation function indexes may help to reduce the risk of DVT. Platelet parameters (MPV, PDW, P-LCR) have certain reference values for the clinical diagnosis and disease evaluation of DVT.

Enhancing fuel characteristics and combustion performance of cellulose-rich straws through CO2-assisted torrefaction.

Cellulose-rich straws of corn and rice were torrefied under carbon dioxide, and the fuel characteristics and combustion performance of the obtained biochar were investigated. A high severity resulted in surface collapse, greater pore volume, elimination of oxygen, elevated calorific value, and improved hydrophobicity in biochar. Following carbon dioxide torrefaction, the cellulose content in solid biochar experienced a slight decrease when the temperature was raised to 220 °C for longer residence durations. At 300 °C, the cellulose content in the biochar was nearly eliminated, while the relative proportion of non-sugar organic matter in corn stover and rice straw increased to 87.40 % and 77.27 %, respectively. The maximum calorific values for biochar from corn and rice straws were 22.38 ± 0.03 MJ/kg and 18.72 ± 0.05 MJ/kg. The comprehensive combustion indexes of rice and corn straw samples decreased to 1.06 × 10-7 and 1.31 × 10-7 after torrefaction at 300 °C, respectively. In addition, the initial decomposition temperatures increased by 38 °C and 45 °C, while the ultimate combustion temperatures rose by 13 °C and 16 °C for corn and rice straws, respectively. These results imply an extended combustion timeframe for the torrefied samples.

Green Printing for Scalable Organic Photovoltaic Modules by Controlling the Gradient Marangoni Flow.

Despite the rapid development in the performances of organic solar cells (OSCs), high-performance OSC modules based on green printing are still limited. The severe Coffee-ring effect (CRE) is considered to be the primary reason for the nonuniform distribution of active layer films. To solve this key printing problem, the cosolvent strategy is presented to deposit the active layer films. The guest solvent Mesitylene with a higher boiling point and a lower surface tension is incorporated into the host solvent o-XY to optimize the rheological properties, such as surface tension and viscosity of the active layer solutions. And the synergistic effect of inward Marangoni flow generation and solution thickening caused by the cosolvent strategy can effectively restrain CRE, resulting in highly homogeneous large-area active layer films. In addition, the optimized crystallization and phase separation of active layer films effectively accelerate the charge transport and exciton dissociation of devices. Consequently, based on PM6:BTP-eC9 system, the device prepared with the co-solvent strategy shows the a power conversion efficiency of 17.80%. Moreover, as the effective area scales to 1 and 16.94 cm2, the recorded performances are altered to 16.71% and 14.58%. This study provides a universal pathway for the development of green-printed high-efficiency organic photovoltaics.

Selectively fractionate hemicelluloses with high molecular weight from poplar thermomechanical pulp by tetramethylammonium hydroxide.

Selective fractionation of hemicelluloses is of great significance for realizing high-value application of hemicelluloses and comprehensive utilization of lignocellulosic biomass. Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solvent has been confirmed as a promising solvent to selectively fractionate hemicelluloses from holocellulose. Herein, TMAH solvent was adopted to pretreat poplar thermomechanical pulp (PTMP) for the selective fractionation of hemicelluloses and enhancement of enzymatic hydrolysis performance of residues. The maximal hemicelluloses yield (65.0 %) and excellent cellulose retention rate (93.3 %) were achieved after pretreatment by the 25 wt% TMAH solvent, while the delignification was only 33.9 %. The hemicelluloses fractions could be selectively fractionated with high molecular weights (109,800-118,500 g/mol), the contents of Klason lignin in them were low (3.2-5.9 %), and the dominating structure of them was 4-O-methylglucurono-ß-D-xylan. Compared to the H2SO4 and NaOH methods, the hemicelluloses fractionated by TMAH method exhibited higher yields, more complete structures and higher molecular weights. Furthermore, the crystalline structure of cellulose practically remained stable, and the highest yield of enzymatic hydrolysis glucose was 57.5 %, which was 3.3 times of that of PTMP. The fractionation effectiveness of TMAH solvent was not significantly reduced after repeatedly recycling. This work demonstrated TMAH solvent could selectively fractionate hemicelluloses from PTMP and efficiently promote sustainable poplar-based biorefinery.

Perforin-Mimicking Molecular Drillings Enable Macroporous Hollow Lignin Spheres for Performance-Configurable Materials.

Despite the first observations that the perforin can punch holes in target cells for live/dead cycles in the human immune system over 110 years ago, emulating this behavior in materials science remains challenging. Here, a perforin-mimicking molecular drilling strategy is employed to engineer macroporous hollow lignin spheres as performance-configurable catalysts, adhesives, and gels. Using a toolbox of over 20 molecular compounds, the local curvature of amphiphilic lignin is modulated to generate macroporous spheres with hole sizes ranging from 0 to 100 nm. Multiscale control is precisely achieved through noncovalent assembly directing catalysis, synthesis, and polymerization. Exceptional performance mutations correlate with the changes in hole size, including an increase in catalytic efficiency from 50% to 100%, transition from nonstick synthetics to ultrastrong adhesives (adhesion ≈18.3 MPa, exceeding that of classic epoxies), and transformation of viscous sols to tough nanogels. Thus, this study provides a robust and versatile noncovalent route for mimicking perforin-induced structural variations in cells, representing a significant stride toward the exquisite orchestration of assemblies over multiple length scales.

Diagnostic Value of Serum Galectin-3 Binding Protein Level in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) still lacks effective biomarkers to assist in its diagnosis and prognosis. Galectin-3 binding protein (Gal-3BP) plays a role in immune and inflammatory diseases. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate Gal-3BP as a prognostic and predictive factor in patients with PAH. METHODS: From January 2017 to December 2019, we enrolled 167 consecutive PAH patients and 58 healthy controls. Right heart catheterization (RHC) was used to diagnose PAH. Serum Gal-3BP levels were measured by high-sensitivity human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Serum Gal-3BP levels in the PAH group were significantly higher compared with the control group (4.87±2.09 vs 2.22±0.86 µg/mL, p<0.001). Gal-3BP level was correlated with several hemodynamic parameters obtained from RHC (p<0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that Gal-3BP was a risk factor for PAH (odds ratio (OR)=2.947, 95% CI: 1.821-4.767, p<0.001). The optimal cut-off value of serum Gal-3BP level for predicting PAH was 2.89 µg/mL (area under the curve (AUC)=0.860, 95 % CI: 0.811-0.910, p<0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that Gal-3BP levels above the median (4.87 µg/mL) were associated with an increased risk of death in patients with PAH (hazard ratio (HR)=8.868, 95 % CI: 3.631-21.65, p<0.0001). Cox multivariate risk regression analysis showed that Gal-3BP was a risk factor for death in PAH patients (HR=2.779, 95 % CI: 1.823-4.237, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Serum Gal-3BP levels were increased in patients with PAH, and levels of Gal-3BP were associated with the severity of PAH. Gal-3BP might have predictive value for the diagnosis and prognosis of PAH.

Correlation between Serum MMP-2/-16 Levels and Inflammation in Patients with Deep Vein Thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to clarify the correlation between serum MMP-2/-16 and inflammation in patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT). METHODS: Sixty DVT patients and 60 healthy people who underwent health examinations were collected. Serum MMP-2/-16, IL-6/-8, and TNF-α were determined by ELISA. MMP-2/-16 protein levels were detected by western blot, and IL-6/-8 and TNF-α by RT-qPCR. Correlation analysis was performed on MMP-2/-16xdd, IL-6/-8, and TNF-α in DVT patients. RESULTS: MMP-2/-16, IL-6/-8, and TNF-α in DVT patients after treatment were lower than before treatment. Serum IL-6/-8 and TNF-α levels in DVT patients were both positively correlated with MMP-2/-16 levels. CONCLUSIONS: MMP-2/-16 and inflammatory factors are related to DVT development, and IL-6/-8 and TNF-α are positively correlated with MMP-2/-16.

Near infrared II excitation nanoplatform for photothermal/chemodynamic/antibiotic synergistic therapy combating bacterial biofilm infections.

Drug-resistant bacterial biofilm infections (BBIs) are refractory to elimination. Near-infrared-II photothermal therapy (NIR-II PTT) and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) are emerging antibiofilm approaches because of the heavy damage they inflict upon bacterial membrane structures and minimal drug-resistance. Hence, synergistic NIR-II PTT and CDT hold great promise for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of BBIs. Herein, we propose a biofilm microenvironment (BME)-responsive nanoplatform, BTFB@Fe@Van, for use in the synergistic NIR-II PTT/CDT/antibiotic treatment of BBIs. BTFB@Fe@Van was prepared through the self-assembly of phenylboronic acid (PBA)-modified small-molecule BTFB, vancomycin, and the CDT catalyst Fe2+ ions in DSPE-PEG2000. Vancomycin was conjugated with BTFB through a pH-sensitive PBA-diol interaction, while the Fe2+ ions were bonded to the sulfur and nitrogen atoms of BTFB. The PBA-diol bonds decomposed in the acidic BME, simultaneously freeing the vancomycin and Fe2+ irons. Subsequently, the catalytic product hydroxyl radical was generated by the Fe2+ ions in the oxidative BME overexpressed with H2O2. Moreover, under 1064 nm laser, BTFB@Fe@Van exhibited outstanding hyperthermia and accelerated the release rate of vancomycin and the efficacy of CDT. Furthermore, the BTFB@Fe@Van nanoplatform enabled the precise NIR-II imaging of the infected sites. Both in-vitro and in-vivo experiments demonstrated that BTFB@Fe@Van possesses a synergistic NIR-II PTT/CDT/antibiotic mechanism against BBIs.

Rural Veterans' Experiences with Social Risk Factors: Impacts, Challenges, and Care System Recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Social risk factors, such as food insecurity and financial needs, are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, health conditions that are highly prevalent in rural populations. A better understanding of rural Veterans' experiences with social risk factors can inform expansion of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) efforts to address social needs. OBJECTIVE: To examine social risk and need from rural Veterans' lived experiences and develop recommendations for VHA to address social needs. DESIGN: We conducted semi-structured interviews with participants purposively sampled for racial diversity. The interview guide was informed by Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use and the Outcomes from Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Systems framework. PARTICIPANTS: Rural Veterans with or at risk of cardiovascular disease who participated in a parent survey and agreed to be recontacted. APPROACH: Interviews were recorded and transcribed. We analyzed transcripts using directed qualitative content analysis to identify themes. KEY RESULTS: Interviews (n = 29) took place from March to June 2022. We identified four themes: (1) Social needs can impact access to healthcare, (2) Structural factors can make it difficult to get help for social needs, (3) Some Veterans are reluctant to seek help, and (4) Veterans recommended enhancing resource dissemination and navigation support. CONCLUSIONS: VHA interventions should include active dissemination of information on social needs resources and navigation support to help Veterans access resources. Community-based organizations (e.g., Veteran Service Organizations) could be key partners in the design and implementation of future social need interventions.

Lattice distortion and re-distortion affecting irradiation tolerance in high entropy alloys.

High entropy alloys (HEAs) are promising nuclear structural materials due to their excellent irradiation resistance. However, the essential mechanisms of irradiation tolerance in HEAs remain largely inferential and imperfectly understood. This study investigates the evolution of irradiation-induced nano-scale microstructures in Ni, FeNiCr, FeNiCrCoCu and FeNiCrCuAl HEA models by molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the conundrums. As fewer irradiation-induced Frenkel pair (FP) residuals were found in the FeNiCrCuAl HEA model in comparison with other models, a high resistance of the HEAs to the generation of permanent defects was indicated, while also the associated relatively long thermal spike and slow recrystallization stimulated a high efficiency for the recombination/annihilation of FPs to underscore a superior structural recovery of the HEAs. Under the influence of compositional increases of constituent elements, the effect of severe lattice distortion by energetics modifications was found to stimulate decreased atomic mobility accompanied by inhibited dislocation formation. The evolution of the models' lattices in terms of their capacity to restrict interstitials and repair defects revealed that the self-healing/recovery mechanism that confirmed the highest initial lattice distortion value accompanied by the least lattice re-distortion value in the FeNiCrCuAl HEA model is key to the observed superior irradiation tolerance of the HEA models. Thus, by feasibly enhancing lattice distortion in crystalline materials, notably in HEAs, promising and potentially high irradiation-resistant structural materials can be developed.

The Use of Antimicrobial Drug in Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To analyze the use of antimicrobial drugs in patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We searched for literature about antimicrobial treatment in COVID-19 patients through the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, the Chinese biomedical literature database, CNKI, the Chinese journal full-text database, Wanfang, and Vipu. The quality evaluation of the literature was performed by Jadad's quality score. Results: A total of three articles reported on ivermectin treatment in patients with COVID-19, and the Meta-analysis showed no clinical and statistical heterogeneity among the studies (I2 = 15%, P = .31), a fixed effect model was used to incorporate effect sizes. The clinical effect of the observed group was not different from the control group (P = .16). None of the three ivermectin articles with clinical effect as the effect indicator showed a significant difference (P > .05), suggesting no publication bias. A total of four publications reported the treatment with azithromycin in patients with COVID-19, and the Meta-analysis showed no clinical and statistical heterogeneity between the studies (I2 = 0%, P = .88), using a fixed-effect model to incorporate the effect sizes. The clinical effect of the observed group was not different from the control group (P = .57). None of the four azithromycin articles with a clinical effect as the effect index was statistically significant (P > .05), suggesting no publication bias. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the patient's use of antibiotics does not significantly improve clinical efficacy, so antibiotic use is recommended only for patients with complicated bacterial infections.

UCHL1 alleviates apoptosis in chondrocytes via upregulation of HIF­1α­mediated mitophagy.

Stem cell­based tissue engineering has shown significant potential for rapid restoration of injured cartilage tissues. Stem cells frequently undergo apoptosis because of the prevalence of oxidative stress and inflammation in the microenvironment at the sites of injury. Our previous study demonstrated that stabilization of hypoxia­inducible factor 1α (HIF­1α) is key to resisting apoptosis in chondrocytes. Recently, it was reported that Ubiquitin C­terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) can stabilize HIF­1α by abrogating the ubiquitination process. However, the effect of UCHL1 on apoptosis in chondrocytes remains unclear. Herein, adipose­derived stem cells were differentiated into chondrocytes. Next, the CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) system, LDN­57444 (LDM; a specific inhibitor for UCHL1), KC7F2 (a specific inhibitor for HIF­1α), and 3­methyladenine (a specific inhibitor for mitophagy) were used to activate or block UCHL1, HIF­1α, and mitophagy. Mitophagy, apoptosis, and mitochondrial function in chondrocytes were detected using immunofluorescence, TUNEL staining, and flow cytometry. Moreover, the oxygen consumption rate of chondrocytes was measured using the Seahorse XF 96 Extracellular Flux Analyzer. UCHL1 expression was increased in hypoxia, which in turn regulated mitophagy and apoptosis in the chondrocytes. Further studies revealed that UCHL1 mediated hypoxia­regulated mitophagy in the chondrocytes. The CRISPRa module was utilized to activate UCHL1 effectively for 7 days; endogenous activation of UCHL1 accelerated mitophagy, inhibited apoptosis, and maintained mitochondrial function in the chondrocytes, which was mediated by HIF­1α. Taken together, UCHL1 could block apoptosis in chondrocytes via upregulation of HIF­1α-mediated mitophagy and maintain mitochondrial function. These results indicate the potential of UCHL1 activation using the CRISPRa system for the regeneration of cartilage tissue.

Synthesis of lignin nanoparticle­manganese dioxide complex and its adsorption of methyl orange.

Lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) were synthesized using an anti-solvent method and subsequently loaded with manganese dioxide (MnO2) via potassium permanganate treatment, resulting in the formation of MnO2@LNPs. An extensive investigation was conducted to elucidate the influence of MnO2@LNPs on the decolorization of methyl orange solution. The LNPs were successfully obtained by adjusting the preparation parameters, yielding particles exhibited average sizes ranging from 300 to 600 nm, and the synthesis process exhibited a high yield of up to 87.3% and excellent dispersion characteristics. Notably, LNPs size was reduced by decreasing initial concentration, increasing stirring rate, and adding water. In the acetone-water two-phase system, LNPs self-assembled into spherical particles driven by π-π interactions and hydrogen bond forces. Oxidation modification using potassium permanganate led to the formation of nanoscale MnO2, which effectively combined with LNPs. Remarkably, the resulting MnO2@LNPs demonstrated a two-fold increase in methyl orange adsorption capacity (227 mg/g) compared to unmodified LNPs. The process followed the Langmuir isotherm model and was exothermic.