Time course of visual attention in rats by atomic magnetometer.

Atomic magnetometer (AM) is utilized to non-invasively detect event-related magnetic fields (ERMFs) evoked by visual stimuli in rats. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between N2-like amplitude and visual attention. To achieve this, we combined the AM with a visual stimulation system and employed the passive single-stimulus paradigm. By measuring the ERMFs at various inter-stimulus intervals (ISIs) with a sensitivity of 20 fT/[Formula: see text], we analyzed the effects of the ISI and the 'habituation' resulting from repeated stimuli on the N2-like amplitude. Our method serves as a valuable reference for studying the passive single-stimulus paradigm and the time course of mammalian attention.

Mobile health management among end stage renal disease patients: a scoping review.

Aims: The health management of end-stage renal disease patients is a complicated process, and mobile health management technology provides a new choice for the health management of end-stage renal disease patients. The scope of clinical studies on mobile health management for patients with end-stage renal disease was reviewed, and found that about mobile health management problems existing in the literature were identified to provide ideas for subsequent mobile health management research. Methods: The databases Web of Science, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, Wan Fang Data, BMJ, and VIP were systematically searched for studies on Mobile health management among end-stage renal disease in adult and adolescent patients or children undergoing kidney replacement therapy. The search covered the period from the inception of the databases to June 20, 2023. Two independent reviewers conducted the literature screening process. Following eligibility screening, a total of 38 papers were included for data extraction and descriptive analysis. Results: A total of 38 studies from 14 countries were finally included. The majority of which were interventional trials. The platforms used in these studies included remote monitoring systems, apps, websites, mobile phones or tablets, and social platforms. These platforms provided patients with a wide range of services, including disease management, behavioral intervention, social support, and follow-up care. Most studies focused on patient clinical indicators, patient experience, quality of life, and healthcare costs. Conclusion: Our findings that mobile health management has been widely used in disease management of end-stage renal disease patients, with rich management content and many evaluation indicators. Future studies should strengthen the evaluation of patients' mental health, quality of life, and healthcare costs. Additionally, developing a clinical decision support system would enable mobile health management to play a more effective role in end-stage renal disease patients.

Wrist-ankle acupuncture for primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of an analgesic strap.

Background: Drawing on the principles of wrist-ankle acupuncture (WAA), our research team has developed a portable device for WAA point compression, termed the acupressure wrist-ankle strap (AWA). The current study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the AWA in alleviating pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: A single-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted from April 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019. 78 participants with primary dysmenorrhea were recruited from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. All participants were treated on the first day of menstruation for 30 min. Participants in the AWA group used the AWA, the internal side of which is equipped with a tip compression component, while participants in the non-acupressure wrist-ankle acupuncture(NAWA)group used the NAWA, with the inside tip pressing parts removed. The main outcome was the difference in visual analogue scale (VAS) score between baseline and 30 minutes after randomization. Results: A total of 78 participants aged 18 to 30 years were included in the intention-to-treat analyses. The VAS scores (mean [standard deviation]) in the AWA group were significantly lower than those in the NAWA group at each time point of intervention (5 minutes: 95% CI, [-1.27 to -0.68], p < 0.001; 10 minutes: 95% CI, [-2.34 to -1.51], p < 0.001; 30 minutes: 95% CI, [-3.74 to -2.72], p < 0.001). In the AWA group, 16 participants reported "obvious relief" of dysmenorrhea pain while 23 did not; the average onset time of analgesia they reported were (21.50 ± 3.65) min, while no subjects in NAWA group reported obvious pain relief. The pain threshold (mean [standard deviation]) at SP9 of both sides in AWA group decreased significantly after intervention that in NAWA group (Left: 95% CI, [-5.02 to -1.81], p < 0.001; Right: 95% CI, [-7.67 to -4.24], p < 0.001). There was no significant change in the temperature at CV4 in either group (95% CI, [-0.63 to -0.66], p = 0.970). Conclusion: This trial substantiates our hypothesis that the AWA provides immediate analgesic effects. The AWA represents an effective and safe non-invasive physical therapy option, which patients can self-administer to alleviate abdominal pain.

Non-invasive measurement of rat auditory evoked fields using an optically pumped atomic magnetometer: Effects of task manipulation.

Optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) have become a favorable tool for magnetoencephalography (MEG) measurement, offering a non-invasive method of measurement. OPMs do not require cryogenic environments, sensors can be more closely aligned with the brain. We employed a passive single-stimulus paradigm in conjunction with OPMs with a sensitivity of 20 fT/ Hz to investigate the auditory response of rats to inter-stimulus interval (ISI) and frequencies, recording the rat auditory event-related magnetic fields (ERMFs). Our findings include: (1) Auditory evoked fields can be detected non-invasively by OPMs; (2) The amplitude of the rat auditory ERMFs varies with changes in ISI, with more pronounced amplitude changes observed after 5 s; (3) When the sound stimulus frequency is altered at the same ISI, the amplitude of the rats ERMFs changes with frequency, indicating significant differences in attention. Our method offers a valuable tool for the clinical application of a single stimulus paradigm and opens up a new avenue for research on the brain magnetic field detections.

[Anti-tumor mechanism of total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma on inducing ferroptosis of breast cancer MCF-7 cells].

This study aims to investigate the mechanism of total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma in inducing the ferroptosis of MCF-7 cells and provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of breast cancer with total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma. The methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay was employed to examine the effects of different concentrations of total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. A phase contrast inverted microscope was used to observe the morphological changes of MCF-7 cells. The colony formation assay was employed to test the colony formation of MCF-7 cells. The lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) release test was conducted to determine the cell membrane integrity of MCF-7 cells. The cell scratch assay was employed to examine the migration of MCF-7 cells. After that, the level of reactive oxygen species(ROS) in MCF-7 cells was observed by an inverted fluorescence microscope, and the content of Fe~(2+) in MCF-7 cells was detected by the corresponding kit. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe the mitochondrial ultrastructure of MCF-7 cells. Western blot was employed to determine the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins, such as p53, solute carrier family 7 member 11(SLC7A11), glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4), acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4(ACSL4), and transferrin receptor protein 1(TFR1) in MCF-7 cells. The results showed that 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, and 9 µg·mL~(-1) total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma significantly inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells, with the IC_(50) of 4.12 µg·mL~(-1). Total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma significantly damaged the morphology of MCF-7 cells, leading to the formation of vacuoles and the gradual shrinkage and detachment of cells. Meanwhile, total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma inhibited the colony formation of MCF-7 cells, destroyed the cell membrane(leading to the release of LDH), and shortened the migration distance of MCF-7 cells. Total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma treatment significantly increased the content of ROS, induced oxidative damage, and led to the accumulation of Fe~(2+) in MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma changed the mitochondrial structure, increased the mitochondrial membrane density, led to the decrease or even disappear of ridges, promoted the expression of p53 protein, down-regulated the expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4, and up-regulated the expression of ACSL4 and TFR1. In summary, total saponins of Paridis Rhizoma can significantly inhibit the proliferation and migration of MCF-7 cells and destroy the cell structure by inducing ferroptosis.

Cost-effectiveness of Sacituzumab Govitecan versus Single-agent Chemotherapy for Patients with Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in China.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) have poor prognosis and survival outcomes. Sacituzumab govitecan was newly approved into Chinese market for mTNBC. However, whether its price matches the survival benefit still needs exploring. Here, this study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of sacituzumab govitecan versus chemotherapy in patients with mTNBC from the perspective of Chinese healthcare system. METHODS: A partitioned survival model consisting of three discrete health states was constructed to assess the cost-effectiveness of sacituzumab govitecan versus single-agent chemotherapy. The key clinical data in the model were from the ASCENT trial. Costs and utility inputs were collected from published literatures. Life-years gained, quality adjusted life-years (QALYs), incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), incremental net health benefits, and incremental net monetary benefits were calculated between 2 treatment strategies. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to account for uncertainty and verify model robustness. Subgroup and cost-threshold analysis were also performed. RESULTS: Sacituzumab govitecan provided an additional 0.25 QALYs and an incremental cost of $ 81,778.61 compared with chemotherapy, which was associated with an ICER of $ 323,603.84/QALY. One-way sensitivity analysis revealed that the model was most sensitive to the cost of sacituzumab govitecan, weight, and utility of progression-free survival. The probabilistic sensitivity analysis indicated that the probability of sacituzumab govitecan being cost-effective was 0%. Considering a willingness-to-pay (WTP) of 3 times GDP, the maximum cost of sacituzumab govitecan that would make it cost-effective was $155.65 per unit (180 mg). CONCLUSIONS: Sacituzumab govitecan was not cost-effective for patients with mTNBC compared with chemotherapy at the commonly adopted WTP threshold of 3 times GDP per capita per QALY in China.

Relationship between autoimmune thyroid antibodies and anti-nuclear antibodies in general patients.

Background: There is no doubt that both Hashimoto thyroiditis and Graves' disease are autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), but the relationship between anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and AITDs is poorly studied. The association between thyroid autoantibody levels and ANA positivity was evaluated to assess the role of ANA in AITDs. Methods: We conducted an analysis using data from 1,149,893 patients registered at our hospital and 53,021 patients registered in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey databases. We focused on patients with data for thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb)/ANA, TPOAb/immunoglobulin G (IgG), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor antibody (TRAb)/ANA, TRAb/IgG, TSH/ANA, or TSH/IgG. Results: ANA positivity rates were 12.88% and 21.22% in TPOAb/ANA and TSH/ANA patients, respectively. In TPOAb/IgG and TSH/IgG data, high IgG levels (≥15 g/L) were detected in 2.23% and 4.06% of patients, respectively. There were significant differences in ANA positivity rates and high IgG proportions among patients with different TPOAb and TSH levels. TPOAb level was correlated with ANA positivity rate and high IgG proportion, and TSH level was correlated with ANA positivity rate. Regression analysis showed positive correlations between TPOAb levels and ANA positivity risk or high IgG risk, TSH levels and high IgG risk, and elevated TSH and ANA positivity risk. Of patients with TRAb/ANA data, 35.99% were ANA-positive, and 13.93% had TRAb levels ≥1.75IU/L; 18.96% of patients with TRAb/IgG data had high IgG levels, and 16.51% had TRAb levels ≥1.75IU/L. ANA positivity rate and high IgG proportion were not significantly different among different TRAb levels. TRAb levels, ANA positivity risk and high IgG risk were not correlated. Conclusion: ANA positivity and high IgG are related to Hashimoto thyroiditis but not Graves' disease, which implies distinct pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the AITDs.

Vector magnetocardiography using compact optically-pumped magnetometers.

Optically pumped magnetometers can provide functionality for bio-magnetic field detection and mapping. This has attracted widespread attention from researchers in the biomedical science field. Magnetocardiography has been proven to be an effective method for examining heart disease. Notably, vector magnetocardiography obtains more spatial information than the conventional method by only taking a component that is perpendicular to the chest surface. In this work, a spin-exchange-relaxation-free (SERF) magnetometer with a compact size of 14 mm × 25 mm × 90 mm was developed. The device has a high sensitivity of 25 fT/ Hz. Meanwhile, in the multichannel working mode, synchronous sensor manipulation and data acquisition can be achieved through our control software without additional data acquisition boards. Since a typical SERF magnetometer only responds to dual-axis magnetic fields, two sensors are orthogonally arranged to form a vector detection channel. Our system consists of seven channels and allows 7 × 9 vector MCG mapping by scanning. High-quality heart vector signals are measured, and P peak, QRS peak, and T peak can be distinguished clearly. To better demonstrate the vectorial information, a vector scatter plot form is also provided. Through a basic bio-electric current model, it demonstrates that triaxial MCG measurements capture a richer spatial current information than traditional uniaxial MCG, offering substantial diagnostic potential for heart diseases and shedding more light on the inversion of cardiac issues.

Hypoxia-Challenged Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Cell-Derived Exosomal circR3HCC1L Drives Tumor Growth Via Upregulating PKM2 Through Sequestering miR-873-5p.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is a fatal disease with poor survival. Increasing evidence show that hypoxia-induced exosomes are associated with cancer progression. Here, we aimed to investigate the function of hsa_circ_0007678 (circR3HCC1L) and hypoxic PAAD cell-derived exosomal circR3HCC1L in PAAD progression. Through the exoRBase 2.0 database, we screened for a circular RNA circR3HCC1L related to PAAD. Changes of circR3HCC1L in PAAD samples and cells were analyzed with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell proliferation, migration, invasion were analyzed by colony formation, cell counting, and transwell assays. Measurements of glucose uptake and lactate production were done using corresponding kits. Several protein levels were detected by western blotting. The regulation mechanism of circR3HCC1L was verified by dual-luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation, and RNA pull-down assays. Exosomes were separated by differential ultracentrifugation. Animal experiments were used to verify the function of hypoxia-derived exosomal circR3HCC1L. CircR3HCC1L was upregulated in PAAD samples and hypoxic PAAD cells. Knockdown of circR3HCC1L decreased hypoxia-driven PAAD cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and glycolysis. Hypoxic PAAD cell-derived exosomes had higher levels of circR3HCC1L, hypoxic PAAD cell-derived exosomal circR3HCC1L promoted normoxic cancer cell malignant transformation and glycolysis in vitro and xenograft tumor growth in mouse models in vivo. Mechanistically, circR3HCC1L regulated pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) expression via sponging miR-873-5p. Also, PKM2 overexpression or miR-873-5p silencing offset circR3HCC1L knockdown-mediated effects on hypoxia-challenged PAAD cell malignant transformation and glycolysis. Hypoxic PAAD cell-derived exosomal circR3HCC1L facilitated PAAD progression through the miR-873-5p/PKM2 axis, highlighting the contribution of hypoxic PAAD cell-derived exosomal circR3HCC1L in PAAD.

Optical biosensor based on weak measurement for ultra-sensitive detection of calreticulin in human serum.

A novel real-time optical phase sensing method based on the Mach-Zehnder interference principle has been proposed for the detection of calreticulin (CRT) levels in human serum samples. In this approach, anti-CRT antibodies are utilized to capture CRT molecules in serum, leading to a phase shift in both the measuring and reference arms of the system. By employing the concept of weak amplification within the framework of weak measurements, it becomes feasible to continuously monitor the response of CRT in real-time, allowing for the precise determination of serum CRT content at the picomolar level. Our achievement may pave the way in establishing CRT as a diagnostic biomarker for a wide range of medical applications, including rheumatoid arthritis.

Imaging, pathology, and diagnosis of solitary fibrous tumor of the pancreas: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: A solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is often located in the pleura, while SFT of the pancreas is extremely rare. Here, we report a case of SFT of the pancreas and discuss imaging, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry for accurate diagnosis and treatment. CASE SUMMARY: A 54-year-old man presented to our hospital with pancreatic occupancy for over a month. There were no previous complaints of discomfort. His blood pressure was normal. Blood glucose, tumor markers, and enhanced computed tomography (CT) suggested a malignant tumor. Because the CT appearance of pancreatic cancer varies, we could not confirm the diagnosis; therefore, we performed endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB). Pathology and immunohistochemistry were consistent with SFT of the pancreas. The postoperative pathology and immunohistochemistry were consistent with the puncture results. The patient presented for a follow-up examination one month after discharge with no adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Other diseases must be excluded in patients with a pancreatic mass that cannot be diagnosed. CT and pathological histology have diagnostic value for pancreatic tumors. Endoscopic puncture biopsy under ultrasound can help diagnose pancreatic masses that cannot be diagnosed preoperatively. Surgery is an effective treatment for SFT of the pancreas; however, long-term follow-up is strongly recommended because of the possibility of malignant transformation of the tumor.

Circ_103809 Aggravates the Malignant Phenotype of Pancreatic Cancer Through Modulating miR-197-3p/TSPAN3 Axis.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a malignant tumor with insidious clinical manifestations and dismal prognosis. Emerging reports have demonstrated that circRNAs exert pivotal biological function in PC. Here, we investigated the crucial biological role and underlying regulatory mechanisms of differentially expressed circ_103809 in PC. In this study, hsa_circ_103809 (hsa_circ_0072088) was identified as the research object via analyzing and screening the aberrantly expressed circRNAs in PC by GSE69362 dataset. The levels of circ_103809 in PC tissues and cells were assessed via qRT-PCR. Functional assays were conducted to monitor the impacts of circ_103809 on PC cells. Additionally, the downstream molecular targets and regulatory networks of circ_103809 were predicted by bioinformatics and validated using luciferase assays and rescue experiments. We found that circ_103809 was substantially upregulated in PC tissues and cells. Silencing circ_103809 restrained the growth viability, clonogenic rate, migration, and invasion capabilities of PC cells. Further mechanistic exploration disclosed that miR-197-3p was the downstream gene of circ_103809, while Tetraspanin-3 (TSPAN3) was a direct target of miR-197-3p. The suppressive effect of circ_103809 knockdown on malignant processes of PC cells was eliminated by miR-197-3p downregulation or TSPAN3 upregulation. Our study demonstrated that circ_103809 served as an innovative positive regulator in the growth and metastasis of PC cells. Furthermore, circ_103809 mediated the miR-197-3p/TSPAN3 axis to modulate the malignant progression of PC cells, which was prospected to be a probable biomarker and an efficient therapeutic target for PC.

Incidence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection, a multicenter cohort study in Shanghai, China.

During March 2022 to January 2023, two Omicron waves hit Shanghai and caused a massive number of reinfections. To better understand the incidence and clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection in Shanghai, China, we conducted a multicenter cohort study. COVID-19 patients first infected with BA.2 (March 1, 2022-May 23, 2022) who were quarantined in Huashan Hospital, Renji Hospital, and Shanghai Jing'an Central Hospital were followed up for reinfection from June 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023. Of 897 primary infections, 148 (16.5%) experienced reinfection. Incidence rate of reinfection was 0.66 cases per 1000 person-days. Female gender (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]= 2.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-3.83) was a risk factor for reinfection. The four most common symptoms of reinfections during the circulation of BA.5 sublineages were cough (62.59%), sore throat (54.42%), fatigue (48.98%), and fever (42.57%). Having received a booster vaccination was not associated with reduced severity of reinfection in comparison with not having received booster vaccination. After matched 1:1 by age and sex, we found that reinfections with BA.5 sublineages had significantly lower occurrence and severity of fever, fatigue, sore throat, and cough, as compared to primary infections with BA.5 sublineages. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron reinfections were less severe than Omicron primary infections during the circulation of the same subvariant. Protection offered by both vaccination and previous infection was poor against SARS-CoV-2 reinfection.

Ligamentum teres hepatis wrapping of the gastroduodenal artery stump for protection in total laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy: a single-center experience.

OBJECTIVE: Hemorrhage from the stump of the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) is a significant postoperative risk with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Studies have shown that wrapping the GDA stump using the omentum or the falciform ligament can help prevent bleeding. We aimed to determine whether wrapping the GDA stump with the ligamentum teres hepatis (LTH) would reduce postoperative PD hemorrhage. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data for 148 patients who underwent laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy (LPD) at our hospital from November 2015 to September 2021. We compared perioperative data from 63 LPD patients without wrapping of the GDA (unwrapped group) and 85 whose GDA stumps were wrapped (wrapped group). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the groups' baseline characteristics. The postoperative GDA stump bleeding incidence was significantly lower in the wrapped group than that in the unwrapped group (7.9% vs. 0, respectively). There was also no significant difference in the incidence of other complications (intra-abdominal infection, postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), biliary fistula, and gastrointestinal bleeding). CONCLUSION: Using the LTH to wrap the GDA stump during LPD can reduce bleeding from the GDA stump but not the incidence of other complications.

Jiedu Recipe, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, inhibits cancer stemness in hepatocellular carcinoma via Wnt/ß-catenin pathway under hypoxia.

OBJECTIVE: Jiedu Recipe (JR), a Chinese herbal remedy, has been shown to prolong overall survival time and decrease recurrence and metastasis rates in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This work investigated the mechanism of JR in HCC treatment. METHODS: The chemical constituents of JR were detected using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The potential anti-HCC mechanism of JR was screened using network pharmacology and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) microarray chip assay, followed by experimental validation in human HCC cells (SMMC-7721 and Huh7) in vitro and a nude mouse subcutaneous transplantation model of HCC in vivo. HCC cell characteristics of proliferation, migration and invasion under hypoxic setting were investigated using thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide, wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. Image-iT™ Hypoxia Reagent was added to reveal hypoxic conditions. Stem cell sphere formation assay was used to detect the stemness. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers like E-cadherin, vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin, and pluripotent transcription factors including nanog homeobox, octamer-binding transcription factor 4, and sex-determining region Y box protein 2 were analyzed using Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Western blot was performed to ascertain the anti-HCC effect of JR under hypoxia involving the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. RESULTS: According to network pharmacology and mRNA microarray chip analysis, JR may potentially act on hypoxia and inhibit the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that JR significantly decreased hypoxia, and suppressed HCC cell features of proliferation, migration and invasion; furthermore, the hypoxia-induced increases in EMT and stemness marker expression in HCC cells were inhibited by JR. Results based on the co-administration of JR and an agonist (LiCl) or inhibitor (IWR-1-endo) verified that JR suppressed HCC cancer stem-like properties under hypoxia by blocking the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. CONCLUSION: JR exerts potent anti-HCC effects by inhibiting cancer stemness via abating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway under hypoxic conditions. Please cite this article as: Guo BJ, Ruan Y, Wang YJ, Xiao CL, Zhong ZP, Cheng BB, Du J, Li B, Gu W, Yin ZF. Jiedu Recipe, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, inhibits cancer stemness in hepatocellular carcinoma via Wnt/ß-catenin pathway under hypoxia. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(5): 474-486.

Exosome-transmitted hsa_circ_0012634 suppresses pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression through regulating miR-147b/HIPK2 axis.

Circular RNA (circRNA) has been confirmed to play a vital role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) progression. However, the function and regulatory mechanism of hsa_circ_0012634 in PDAC progression remain unclear. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the expression of hsa_circ_0012634, microRNA (miR)-147b and homeodomain interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2). Cell function was assessed by cell counting kit 8 assay, EdU assay, colony formation assay and flow cytometry. Glucose uptake and lactate production were evaluated to determine cell glycolysis ability. Protein expression was examined by western blot analysis. RNA interaction was confirmed by RNA pull-down assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay. Exosomes were isolated from serums and cell culture supernatant using ultracentrifugation and identified by transmission electron microscopy. Animal experiments were conducted using nude mice. Hsa_circ_0012634 was downregulated in PDAC tissues and cells, and its overexpression suppressed PDAC cell proliferation, glycolysis and enhanced apoptosis. MiR-147b was targeted by hsa_circ_0012634, and its inhibitors repressed PDAC cell growth and glycolysis. HIPK2 could be targeted by miR-147b, and hsa_circ_0012634 regulated miR-147b/HIPK2 to suppress PDAC cell progression. Hsa_circ_0012634 was lowly expressed in serum exosomes of PDAC patients. Exosomal hsa_circ_0012634 inhibited PDAC cell growth and glycolysis in vitro, as well as tumorigenesis in vivo. Exosomal hsa_circ_0012634 restrained PDAC progression via the miR-147b/HIPK2 pathway, confirming that hsa_circ_0012634 might serve as a diagnosis and treatment biomarker for PDAC.

Complications after radiofrequency ablation of hyperparathyroidism secondary to chronic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVE: To study the complications of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients undergoing renal replacement therapy with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed the clinical data, including general information, examination results, treatment times, time interval, and postoperative complications, of 103 SHPT patients who received ultrasound-guided RFA treatment from July 2017 to January 2021. RESULTS: Of 103 patients, 52 required two sessions of RFA within a month. The incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury at the second treatment was significantly higher than that at the first treatment (first session vs. second session, 5.77% vs. 21.15%; p = .021). Of all the enrolled 103 patients, 27 suffered complications after the first session of RFA. When we separated patients into complications group and non-complication group, we detected more ablated nodules in the complications group (Z = -2.222; p = .0026). Subgroup analysis further showed that the patients in the severe hypocalcemia group were younger (p = .005), had more ablated nodules (p = .003) and higher blood phosphorus (p = .012) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels (p = .002). Univariate analysis showed that age, serum phosphorus, ALP, and number of ablated nodules were associated with a higher risk of severe hypocalcemia after the first session of RFA. CONCLUSIONS: An interval of more than 1 month between two treatments may help to avoid recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Age, serum phosphorus, ALP, and number of ablated nodules were associated with a higher risk of severe hypocalcemia after the first session of RFA.

Physics based sparsity level determination for acoustic scattered far-field prediction.

Sparse reconstruction using the equivalent source method has shown promise in acoustic field prediction from near-field measurements. The sparsity level of the representation coefficients needs to be known or estimated. In this letter, for scattered far-field prediction, the lower bound of sparsity level is derived from the effective rank of the far-field transfer matrix and used as a pre-set hyperparameter for orthogonal matching pursuit. The minimum number of measurements is then determined under the compressed sensing theory. Simulated and tank data show the effectiveness of this approach, which combines physical propagation and compressed sensing and is easy to implement.

An Integrated Single-Beam Three-Axis High-Sensitivity Magnetometer.

Three-axis atomic magnetometers have great advantages for interpreting information conveyed by magnetic fields. Here, we demonstrate a compact construction of a three-axis vector atomic magnetometer. The magnetometer is operated with a single laser beam and with a specially designed triangular 87Rb vapor cell (side length is 5 mm). The ability of three-axis measurement is realized by reflecting the light beam in the cell chamber under high pressure, so that the atoms before and after reflection are polarized along two different directions. It achieves a sensitivity of 40 fT/Hz in x-axis, 20 fT/Hz in y-axis, and 30 fT/Hz in z-axis under spin-exchange relaxation-free regime. The crosstalk effect between different axes is proven to be little in this configuration. The sensor configuration here is expected to form further values, especially for vector biomagnetism measurement, clinical diagnosis, and field source reconstruction.

How to Evaluate Green Development Policy Based on the PMC Index Model: Evidence from China.

Implementing green development is important to realizing a harmonious relationship between humans and nature, and has attracted the attention of governments all over the world. This paper uses the PMC (Policy Modeling Consistency) model to make a quantitative evaluation of 21 representative green development policies issued by the Chinese government. The research finds: firstly, the overall evaluation grade of green development is good and the average PMC index of China's 21 green development policies is 6.59. Second, the evaluation of 21 green development policies can be divided into four different grades. Most grades of the 21 policies are excellent and good; the values of five first-level indicators about policy nature, policy function, content evaluation, social welfare, and policy object are high, which indicates that the 21 green development policies in this paper are relatively comprehensive and complete. Third, most green development policies are feasible. In twenty-one green development policies, there are: one perfect-grade policy, eight excellent-grade policies, ten good-grade policies, and two bad-grade policies. Fourthly, this paper analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of policies in different evaluation grades by drawing four PMC surface graphs. Finally, based on the research findings, this paper puts forward suggestions to optimize the green development policy-making of China.